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Dental hygiene schools

Dental Hygiene Schools in California

California has 28 dental hygiene programs at 26 schools. Of these, 23 offer an associate degree and 5 offer a bachelor's. Sacramento has the most, with 2 schools.

In-state tuition and fees run from $1,108 to $55,340 a year (2023–24, whole school, not program cost). Career colleges that price by program report from $70,059 to $85,484 for the whole program. Together they reported 800 dental hygiene graduates in 2023–24.

Dental hygiene programs in California

28 programs · 26 schools
Dental hygiene schools in California
SchoolCityDental hygiene degreesIn-state tuition*Out-of-state*Graduates (2023–24)
Cabrillo CollegeAptosAptos
  • Associate
$1,270$9,910None reported†
Carrington College-OntarioOntarioOntario
  • Associate
$70,059Whole programSame30
Carrington College-SacramentoSacramentoSacramento
  • Associate
Not reportedNot reported57
Carrington College-San JoseSan JoseSan Jose
  • Associate
$71,014Whole programSame55
Carrington College-VisaliaVisaliaVisalia
  • Associate
Not reportedNot reported43
Cerritos CollegeNorwalkNorwalk
  • Associate
$1,364$12,00421
Chabot CollegeHaywardHayward
  • Associate
$1,150$8,68617
Concorde Career College-Garden GroveGarden GroveGarden Grove
  • Associate
$81,040Whole programSame58
Concorde Career College-San BernardinoSan BernardinoSan Bernardino
  • Associate
$82,311Whole programSame51
Concorde Career College-San DiegoSan DiegoSan Diego
  • Associate
$85,484Whole programSame44
Cypress CollegeCypressCypress
  • Associate
$1,146$9,39913
Diablo Valley CollegePleasant HillPleasant Hill
  • Associate
$1,312$8,32819
Foothill CollegeLos Altos HillsLos Altos Hills
  • Associate
  • Bachelor's
$1,565$12,32059
Fresno City CollegeFresnoFresno
  • Associate
$1,334$9,45425
Loma Linda UniversityLoma LindaLoma Linda
  • Bachelor's
$27,900Same33
Moreno Valley CollegeMoreno ValleyMoreno Valley
  • Associate
$1,420$11,23018
Oxnard CollegeOxnardOxnard
  • Associate
$1,412$8,64217
Pasadena City CollegePasadenaPasadena
  • Associate
$1,180$10,75613
Sacramento City CollegeSacramentoSacramento
  • Associate
$1,288$12,80815
Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta RosaSanta Rosa
  • Associate
$1,318$9,31024
Shasta CollegeReddingRedding
  • Associate
$1,197$8,277None reported†
Southwestern CollegeChula VistaChula Vista
  • Associate
$1,344$9,49230
Taft CollegeTaftTaft
  • Associate
$1,108$9,07615
University of the PacificSan FranciscoSan Francisco
  • Bachelor's
$55,340Same11
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheimAnaheim
  • Bachelor's
$22,685Same66
West Los Angeles CollegeCulver CityCulver City
  • Associate
  • Bachelor's
$1,238$10,13066

* Tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates, 2023–24, for the whole school, not the dental hygiene program, which adds instruments, uniforms, and exam fees. Career colleges that price by program report the whole program's tuition and fees instead. Source: IPEDS, which also supplies degrees and graduates (2023–24, CIP 51.0602). † None reported: the school listed the program but reported no graduates for 2023–24, which is common for new programs. Confirm accreditation on CODA's program finder.

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FAQ

Dental hygiene school in California: FAQ

How many dental hygiene schools are in California?

California has 28 dental hygiene programs at 26 schools, based on IPEDS 2023–24 completions data checked against official program pages. Of these, 5 schools offer a bachelor's degree.

How long is dental hygiene school in California?

It depends on the degree. ADEA reports the average associate program takes 2 years (84 credit hours) and the average bachelor's takes 4 years (120 credit hours). Most programs also require prerequisite courses first, so plan on about 3 years in total for an associate path.

ADEA: dental hygiene programs
How much does dental hygiene school cost in California?

In-state tuition and fees at California schools with a dental hygiene program run from $1,108 to $55,340 a year (median $1,318, IPEDS, 2023–24). That's whole-school tuition, not program cost. Dental hygiene programs add instruments, uniforms, and exam fees, so ask each program for its total cost. Career colleges that price by program report from $70,059 to $85,484 for the whole dental hygiene program, before books and supplies.

Are there online dental hygiene programs in California?

Not for your first license. Entry-level programs include hands-on clinical training with patients, so you attend in person, though some schools teach part of the coursework online. Online degree-completion (RDH to bachelor's) programs are for hygienists who are already licensed.

How do I become a dental hygienist in California?

Finish an accredited dental hygiene program, pass the NBDHE and the California Law and Ethics exam, plus the ADEX or CRDTS clinical exam unless you graduated from a California program within the past three years, then apply for your California license.

California dental hygienist license requirements

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