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Dental hygiene schools

Dental Hygiene Schools in Illinois

Illinois has 14 dental hygiene programs at 14 schools. Of these, 12 offer an associate degree and 2 offer a bachelor's. Each school is in a different city.

In-state tuition and fees run from $7,910 to $37,882 a year (2023–24, whole school, not program cost). Together they reported 312 dental hygiene graduates in 2023–24.

Dental hygiene programs in Illinois

14 programs · 14 schools
Dental hygiene schools in Illinois
SchoolCityDental hygiene degreesIn-state tuition*Out-of-state*Graduates (2023–24)
Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburgGalesburg
  • Associate
$7,910In-district $5,300$8,81029
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicagoChicago
  • Associate
$11,520In-district $4,380$14,43025
College of DuPageGlen EllynGlen Ellyn
  • Associate
$10,410In-district $4,320$12,51029
College of Lake CountyGrayslakeGrayslake
  • Associate
$10,531In-district $4,494$14,03622
Illinois Central CollegePeoriaPeoria
  • Associate
$9,348In-district $4,256$11,65420
Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesbyOglesby
  • Associate
$13,835In-district $4,060$14,981None reported†
Lake Land CollegeMattoonMattoon
  • Associate
$8,104In-district $4,280$13,90624
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfreyGodfrey
  • Associate
$9,552In-district $3,552$12,55213
Lewis UniversityRomeoville, Glen Ellyn, and ChampaignRomeoville, Glen Ellyn, and Champaign
  • Bachelor's
$37,882Same12
Parkland CollegeChampaignChampaign
  • Associate
$9,642In-district $4,284$13,26634
Prairie State CollegeChicago HeightsChicago Heights
  • Associate
$9,342In-district $4,176$11,06434
Rock Valley CollegeRockfordRockford
  • Associate
$10,274In-district $4,274$21,34416
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondaleCarbondale
  • Bachelor's
$13,244Same33
William Rainey Harper CollegePalatinePalatine
  • Associate
$9,990In-district $3,822$11,80221

* 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. Community colleges charge less for residents of their district; that rate is shown under the in-state figure. 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 Illinois: FAQ

How many dental hygiene schools are in Illinois?

Illinois has 14 dental hygiene programs at 14 schools, based on IPEDS 2023–24 completions data checked against official program pages. Of these, 2 schools offer a bachelor's degree.

How long is dental hygiene school in Illinois?

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 Illinois?

In-state tuition and fees at Illinois schools with a dental hygiene program run from $7,910 to $37,882 a year (median $10,132, 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.

Are there online dental hygiene programs in Illinois?

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 Illinois?

Finish an accredited dental hygiene program, pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a clinical exam Illinois accepts (ADEX or CRDTS), then apply for your Illinois license.

Illinois dental hygienist license requirements

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