Most Affordable Online Dental Hygiene Degrees

Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Dental Hygiene

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It’s possible to attend school without breaking the bank with one of the 10 most affordable online bachelor’s in dental hygiene. 

Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is a phenomenal field for those looking for a steady career and decent pay. Plus, online programs allow you to finish your education on a schedule that works for you.

Bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene are great if you want to move up in the industry and already have a license or associate degree in the field. They’re also a stepping stone to a master’s degree, which leads to managerial professions in a dental office. 

Let’s check out these degrees more closely.

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?

As the name suggests, a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene prepares you to become a dental hygienist. This is not the same thing as a dentist, all of whom must hold a doctoral degree. Instead, dental hygienists are often dental assistants, performing cleaning and other routine procedures.

As such, these degrees prepare you to perform medical procedures on patients and train you in the use of several tools and tooth care techniques. They don’t require prior medical education or even a focus on biology. They can also lead to a master’s degree in the field: ideal for future dental office administrators.

How Much Can You Earn With a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?

On average, dental hygienists earn an annual wage of about $74,000 per year. However, depending on your experience and degree level, there are opportunities to earn higher wages of close to $100,000. As mentioned before, master’s degrees in the field are available and often come with higher salaries and management opportunities.

Furthermore, dental hygienists will enjoy an 11% job growth rate over the next ten years, meaning job outlook is great for this field. All in all, it’s a fairly lucrative and stable career that’s attainable with a bachelor’s degree alone.

What Is Required for a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?

A bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene will include lots of relevant classes, focusing on oral pathology, dental radiology, and biostatistics. You’ll also likely need to complete some work experience or clinical hours in order to graduate. For online programs, these requirements can be completed without attending the university in question by working at a local facility or medical center.

These degree programs do not typically require extremely high GPAs for admission, although higher is always better. Those with some work experience in dental offices will find it easier to be accepted. Most dental hygiene programs also require you to be licensed as a hygienist.

What Are the Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degrees?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

Now let’s check out the 10 most affordable online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene degrees!

Georgia Highlands College

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours
  • Begins every summer
  • There are opportunities for certifications
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Programs Offered Online

2

Median Debt

$11,761

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

22%

Georgia Highlands College provides an affordable and flexible dental hygiene program with flexible and generous admissions criteria. It’s all online with the exception of a single internship course that can be completed in your local community. There’s only a single application window each year, so apply early if you are interested.

St Petersburg College

St Petersburg College

Quick Facts

  • Capstone course required for graduation
  • Six to Eight-week classes
  • 120 credit hours
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Programs Offered Online

11

Median Debt

$17,230

Programs in Department

3

Popularity at School

17%

St. Petersburg College is an ideal choice for those currently pursuing an associate degree in dental hygiene, as they offer an accelerated completion format. It’s also ideal for licensed dental hygienists, as the curriculum focuses on career improvement areas like education and practice management. Classes begin every fall, so apply early for your best chance of admission.

Farmingdale State College

Quick Facts

  • 64 credit hours
  • Only junior and senior-level courses
  • Several start dates each year
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

59%

Programs Offered Online

1

Median Debt

$17,095

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

11%

Farmingdale State College provides an online dental hygiene degree that’s designed either for those already with some dental hygiene experience or an associate-level degree. It offers several foundational courses as well as a capstone practicum course. Here, students will be able to pursue a specific area of emphasis through an internship period: perfect for honing the skills they just learned through the program.

Community College of Denver

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours
  • Several start dates each year
  • Must be a Colorado resident
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Programs Offered Online

1

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

30%

The Community College of Denver is an ideal choice for those on a budget, as it’s a degree-completion program that assumes you already have some dental hygienist credits. It’s extremely flexible in its scheduling and lets you continue working while completing your education. Class sizes are capped at 25, so application windows are typically fierce and close early.

Clayton State University

Clayton State University

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours in total
  • Opportunities for licensure
  • Some practical experience required
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

42%

Programs Offered Online

8

Median Debt

$22,527

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

23%

Clayton State University provides a dental hygiene program that adequately trains you to excel in all the required aspects of the profession. It’s perfect for students who want to learn how to do all the technical jobs, like cleaning teeth, root investigation, and dressing application. It’s also incredibly flexible and offers several part-time schedules, so it’s ideal if you must work while finishing your education.

University of Louisiana at Monroe

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Quick Facts

  • Can be completed in less than four years
  • 120 credits
  • Several start dates available
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

75%

Programs Offered Online

14

Median Debt

$15,164

Programs in Department

3

Popularity at School

33%

The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a program that’s perfect for current and future dental hygienists. It features an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes classes on behavioral science as well as biomedical and traditional dental subjects. Learning is entirely asynchronous, and no on-campus presence is required, although all students must be licensed before applying to the program.

Ferris State University

Quick Facts

  • 60 credit hours
  • Several start dates each year
  • Has opportunities for licensure
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

72%

Acceptance Rate

74%

Programs Offered Online

14

Median Debt

$23,519

Programs in Department

5

Popularity at School

19%

Ferris State University offers a nationally ranked program that’s flexible enough for those with busy schedules. It’s intended for those who already have an associate degree in dental hygiene, as all of its classes are fairly advanced and technical. However, you do not need to be licensed to be admitted to this program, making it easy for those without lots of practical experience to graduate.

Augusta University

Quick Facts

  • 129 credit hours total
  • Opportunities for licensure after graduation
  • Can be completed in three years
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

77%

Acceptance Rate

75%

Programs Offered Online

5

Median Debt

$18,786

Programs in Department

5

Popularity at School

31%

Augusta University provides a “2+2” program, meaning that all students need to have an associate degree before applying. This program can be completed largely online but does require some laboratory and clinical experience. As a result, all graduates will be prepared to work in dental offices immediately after graduation.

Wichita State University

Wichita State University

Quick Facts

  • Can be completed in 15 months
  • No practicum or clinical courses
  • 32 credits required
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

94%

Programs Offered Online

15

Median Debt

$22,466

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

15%

Wichita State University offers one of the fastest and most affordable ways to get a bachelor’s degree in this subject. It’s intended for those who already have a license as a dental hygienist or an associate degree, but it can be finished more quickly as a result. Tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, making it perfect for the distance-learning format.

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Quick Facts

  • 120 credits
  • Can be completed in less than four years
  • Multiple start dates offered
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

61%

Programs Offered Online

4

Median Debt

$19,856

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

14%

Minnesota State University can be pursued either as a freshman or by those with dental hygiene licenses. The program incorporates a few clinical and practical work experience opportunities. Plus, all classwork can be completed on a flexible time frame: either full or part-time. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.