Dental Hygiene Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Preventive oral healthcare including teeth cleaning, examination, and patient education.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$75K
salary
ROI Payback
3 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
1%
rate
Dental Hygiene Overview
Preventive oral healthcare including teeth cleaning, examination, and patient education.
Category
Healthcare
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
85%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$520K
Female Graduates
95%
Dental Hygiene Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$15,750
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$15,750
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$504,250
Lifetime earnings premium ($520,000) minus net degree cost ($15,750)
Dental Hygiene Salary Progression
Common Dental Hygiene Careers
Dental Hygienist
Public Health Dental Hygienist
Clinical Educator
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Dental Hygiene
#1
University of Michigan
#2
UNC Chapel Hill
#3
University of Minnesota
#4
Idaho State
#5
Oregon Health & Science
Related Majors
Dental Hygiene Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Dental Hygiene Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for dental hygiene programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
Compare All College Majors
Analyze ROI, salary potential, and career outcomes for 150+ college majors.