Do you reside in the Golden State and have dreams of becoming a Dental Hygienist? Check out these top 10 dental hygiene schools in California. With 27 schools in California offering Dental Hygienist programs, it can get difficult to choose which one is the best. Check out our top picks:
1. University of Southern California-Los Angeles
The University of Southern California in Los Angeles (USC) ranks highly in both the US National News University ranking and the Forbes University ranking, at number 23 and number 63 respectively. They have a very competitive 4-year Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene (competing with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for the #1 spot). USC has a very demanding acceptance policy, accepting only 20% of all applicants. The tuition is reasonable for a 4-year degree at $44,000.
2. University of the Pacific – Stockton
This school is small, but it has a very strong Dental Hygiene program. You can expect quality education from UOP because they are also very selective, with a 38% acceptance rate. This university boasts of a high graduation rate while maintaining more affordable tuition fees at only $38,000 a year.
3. University of California – Los Angeles
The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) has high standards for enrollees who wish to take up their Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. They require a higher GPA (3.62) for their students compared to other schools. The reason for their selectivity is the fact that this university charges less than other schools who offer the same program. At University of California, a bachelor’s degree is only $15,000 a year.
4. University of California – San Francisco
The University of California in San Francisco is a little bit more expensive than UCLA. Their 4-year Bachelor’s program is almost three times that of UCLA at $42,000. Their high tuition rate comes with a more rigid acceptance process. UCSF requires a Grade Point Average of 3.52—higher than most public universities.
5. Concorde Career College – Garden Grove and San Bernardino
Both campuses allow very few students to enroll with a student population numbering less than a thousand. Concorde Career College has a near-perfect record for giving financial aid to their students. Their 2-year degree in Dental Hygiene is just one of only ten degrees on offer. Both campuses have higher graduation rates.
6. San Joaquin Valley College – Visalia and Rancho Cucamonga
This community college is also known to be very generous in giving out grants and financial aid to students. They manage this by allowing a few students to enroll (its population is around 1,600 students). Graduation rate is high at San Joaquin and this speaks highly about their associate degree programs. Tuition in SJVC is pegged at $16,000.
7. Carrington College – Sacramento
Sacramento has two schools that offer 2-year programs for Dental Hygienist, and Carrington College is deemed the better one. This school is selective to some degree and has a very small student population. Unlike other community colleges, Carrington turns down some applicants—they have a 70% acceptance rate.
8. Cerritos College—Norwalk
You can expect larger class sizes in Cerritos College. This community college is home to more than 21,000 students. Though the class size may be large, tuition is low at only $1,000. Cerritos College is another school that offers a 2-year Associate program.
9. Oxnard College – Oxnard
Oxnard College is a relatively small school with 7000 students at its campus. Like other state colleges, they offer a 2-year program in Dental Hygiene. Their tuition rates are affordable at $1,200 and they offer some form of financial aid to more than 80% of their students.
10. Pasadena City College – Pasadena
This school offers a 2-year Associate Dental Hygienist program. It’s a very large school with more than 26,000 students. Their tuition fees are quite cheap at only about $1,000. They also have a good record with providing financial aid packages to their students.
Enrolling in any of these dental hygiene schools in California is the first step for you to achieve your dream of becoming a Dental Hygienist. With our list above, you can find a school that’s within your budget and near the area where you live.
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