If you’re a licensed dental hygienist, take your career to the next level with a dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online. Today, students with an associate’s degree, a diploma, certificate, or even just some college credit can enter bachelor’s completion programs! These degrees are essential for working students studying for some of the best entry-level healthcare jobs in the US. Not to mention, online learning is as popular and effective as ever. Imagine having the flexibility to maintain your current position while advancing into a new salary!
But where are the dental hygiene online bachelor completion programs with the proper accreditation, schedule, and price? What are the best online colleges for dental hygiene? That’s where GetEducated comes in.
GetEducated has surveyed 23 online bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene programs from 23 colleges to bring you our “Best Buy” list. This information reveals the best regionally accredited degrees at the most economical prices. Unlike other total-cost ranks, these dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online completion programs feature a per weighted semester-based credit cost.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$426
Least Expensive: Georgia Highlands College – $130.47 per semester credit
Most Expensive: Vermont Technical College – $848.33 per semester credit
Our data-driven research of public and non-profit colleges creates a genuinely reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no misleading formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and they factually showcase the cheapest online dental hygiene degree programs. The dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online options listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Dental Hygiene Bachelor’s Degree Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Georgia Highlands College | (GA) | $130.47 $395.14 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | St. Petersburg College | (FL) | $137.70 $440.79 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Wichita State University | (KS) | $248.84 | All Students |
4 | Oregon Institute of Technology | (OR) | $296.00 | All Students |
5 | Missouri Southern State University | (MO) | $310.71 | All Students |
6 | Ohio State University | (OH) | $326.33 $339.67 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Augusta University | (GA) | $334.47 | All Students |
8 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | (MN) | $356.06 | All Students |
9 | Community College of Denver | (CO) | $382.96 $436.96 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | $384.00 $942.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Texas Woman's University | (TX) | $385.11 $793.11 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | (IL) | $394.05 | All Students |
13 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $399.00 $446.00 $289.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
14 | East Tennessee State University | (TN) | $412.07 $516.93 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Washington University | (WA) | $440.07 | All Students | |
Northern Arizona University | (AZ) | $468.80 | All Students | |
Marian University | (WI) | $480.00 | All Students | |
Ferris State University | (MI) | $499.00 | All Students | |
University of New Haven | (CT) | $540.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | (PA) | $588.93 $251.93 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Bridgeport | (CT) | $616.33 | All Students | |
MCPHS University | (MA) | $798.67 | All Students | |
Vermont Technical College (part of Vermont State University) Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene 14 | (VT) | $848.33 $1,281.33 | In-State Out-of-State |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
CODA Commission on Dental Education of the American Dental Association
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2022 review of regionally accredited dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online bachelor degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
Bachelor completion ranks, like this one, feature a per weighted semester-based credit cost. Some programs require a minimum of an associate’s while others simply require a diploma, certification or some college. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any non-profit, regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for dental hygiene may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Dental Hygiene Bachelor’s Degree Online
Dental hygiene is critical to a person’s health, wellbeing, and overall self-esteem. If you want to help people improve their smiles while earning a strong income in a high-demand career, a dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online may be the right choice for your future!
Dental Hygiene Bachelor’s Degree: An Overview
These are four-year bachelor’s degrees, so you can expect a combination of general-study classes as well as dental and healthcare courses. Classes in these programs combine a wide variety of topics that are crucial to a dental career, but you’ll also study general-education subjects, including humanities, mathematics, and science.
You’ll also have to complete career-specific classes that directly apply to the dental profession. You will study dental research, hygiene practices, general pathology, radiology, and local anesthesia. Classes may include subjects like preclinical dental hygiene. In a course like this, you will explore basic dental hygiene theory and develop fundamental skills that are crucial to the dental profession. This might include infection control, tooth removal, reviewing patient history, and hygiene instruction.
X-rays are an important tool in dental care, helping dentists assess and diagnose a patient. Students in dental hygiene, therefore, can likely expect classes in radiology, which will help them properly apply and use X-ray machines and other technologies.
Other classes may include anatomy, especially the anatomy and physical function of the jaw and teeth. You can also expect classes on dental materials, including tools used in dental care and chemicals used to enhance a patient’s in-office experience and long-term results.
Dental hygiene can be an affordable degree option if you find the right program. In our research, the average dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online was roughly $426 per semester credit. While the most expensive was over $848 per credit, we found programs as low as $130.47 for each semester credit. With research, diligence, and the right help, you can find an online bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene that fit your specific budget.
Once complete, you’ll be prepared for some of the top positions at a dentist’s office.
Best Careers for Dental Hygiene Students
Dental Hygienist
- Salary: $77,810
- Education: Associate’s degree
- Experience: None
These hard-working professionals form the foundation of dental care. While dentists make important decisions and perform advanced operations, a dental hygienist examines a patient, provides cleaning, and takes x-rays for diagnosis. Using numerous tools and techniques, they help people enjoy healthy teeth, strong gums, and a brighter smile. As of 2020, there were roughly 120,000 dentists; there were over 200,000 dental hygienists. This shows just how important they are to overall dental care.
This career only requires an associate’s degree, but if you hold a bachelor’s you’ll be better equipped for some of the top positions. The top 10% in this field earn over $100,000, and the expected job growth is over 11%. This makes it a wonderful career for both earnings and stability.
Dentist
- Salary: $163,220
- Education: Doctorate
- Experience: 5 years or more
With a dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online, you won’t qualify for a dentist’s job. You will, however, be well positioned in the industry. You’ll understand the details of dental care, and you’ll have the skills required to excel in dental clinics. After working as a dental hygienist, you may just decide that a dentist’s career is the next step in your journey.
To become a dentist, you’ll need a doctorate-level medical degree. This will include roughly six to eight years of additional education (on top of your bachelor’s degree), giving you an elite-level understanding of dental care and oral health.
Licensing Requirements for a Dental Career
To work in dental hygiene, as well as other dental careers, you’ll need appropriate licensing and certification, which is issued through the state where you work.
Dental hygienists, as examples, need to graduate from an accredited program and pass written and clinical exams. They will also have to maintain licensure through continuing education. With an education through a high-level dental hygiene bachelor’s degree online, most students will have a relatively easy experience when qualifying for certification.
Dentists also need licensing, which is even more detailed, rigorous, and advanced. They will need a DDS or DMD degree and have to pass the National Board Dental Examinations, which is a written exam. They will also need to pass state or regional examinations.
Dental hygiene online bachelor completion programs prepare you for high-paying, high-demand jobs. You’ll earn a strong income while enjoying the satisfaction that comes from helping people live stronger, healthier lives.