Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Dental Hygiene

Updated August 3, 2021 | Staff Writers

Search Programs

Dental hygienists play an important role in healthcare, especially as more and more connections are made between oral health and overall health, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With an ever-increasing call for healthcare professionals, the demand for dental hygienists is expected to grow by 20% by 2026, which is much faster than the average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, the median pay in 2018 for dental hygienists was $74,820. Entry-level licensure can be earned with an associate’s degree, but to advance professionally, a bachelor’s degree is very helpful.

Many schools offer a degree completion program for registered dental hygienists. These programs take many transfer credits from prior dental hygiene-related coursework and then help students to earn their bachelor’s at as fast a pace as possible. Most programs are also geared toward those who are working in the field full-time, and so they allow students to choose between full- and part-time enrollment. Some programs also allow students to start graduate coursework while finishing their undergraduate coursework. With that being said, check out the 10 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Dental Hygiene 2020. 

Methodology

Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the 10 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Dental Hygiene 2020, from carefully researched data sets published from government and non-profit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees: 

– 25% Student Satisfaction  

– 30% Earning Potential 

– 15% Retention Data 

– 20% Affordability 

– 10% Acceptance Rates

For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.  

#10 AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 89.48

If students have graduated with their associate’s degree, they are optimal candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion program at Augusta University. The program is geared toward those working full-time, and because of this, the program is offered entirely online so that students can complete coursework on their schedule. To graduate, students must have earned 120 credits of coursework, including previously finished credits. Courses in this program include Dental Informatics, Dental Hygiene Case Management, and Assessment of Recognized Dental Specialities. This degree program is also accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. 

Net Price: $13,381

#9 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 91.14

The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This program is optimal for those who have earned their Associate of Applied Science. ULM helps students with this AAS to finish their BS. For admission, students must have taken and passed a college-level English and a college-level mathematics courses. They must also have licensure and have finished the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam. In total, students must take 120 credit hours of coursework to graduate with a baccalaureate degree. Some of the courses in this program include Ethics & Jurisprudence and Management of the Medically Compromised Patient in addition to several field experiences. 

Net Price: $10,787

#8 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 91.40

East Tennessee State University prepares those who have earned their associate’s degree to progress through a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program. Students build on their previous experience in the field of dental hygiene. In particular, students learn more about pain management, periodontal therapy, and soft tissue management as well as how to better work with underserved populations in a health setting. Examples of courses include Anesthesia and Pain Control, Teaching Strategies for Allied health, and Community and Rural Dental Health. 120 credits are required for graduation, and typically 45 to 46 of these transfer in from the associate’s degree.

Net Price: $13,926

#7 FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 91.77

Ferris State University allows students to earn their Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene after finishing their AAS in Dental Hygiene. The program is self-directed and embeds critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills in its students. It prepares students for dental hygiene practice in a variety of fields, including government, education, and public health. During this program, students must complete a practicum experience and a project in order to graduate. The degree requires 121 credits of coursework, including classes like Health Promotion and Wellness, Evidence-Based Health Practice, Community Program Assessment and Planning. The program can be completed entirely online. 

Net Price: $12,973

#6 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 92.56

The University of Missouri-Kansas City seeks to improve students’ job prospects through its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This program also helps students to become leaders in the field of dental health. Additionally, the university is the only public dental school in Missouri or Kansas. UKMC is also home to several oral health libraries and faculty whose knowledge is greatly beneficial to students in the program. As this degree is for registered dental hygienists, students are able to transfer many liberal arts courses as well as some dental hygiene-specific classes. Overall, 124.5 credits are required for graduation, including a practicum experience. 

Net Price: $14,864

#5 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 93.66

The University of South Dakota offers a pathway program to a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program for those who have earned their associate’s degree from an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited program. Usually, students transfer in 40 to 58 credit hours. USK also ensures that students in an online program have access to student services to help them succeed in the BS program. In total, students must complete 120 credit hours of coursework, including courses like Dental Hygiene Leadership, Interprofessional Dental Education and Practice, Inclusive Patient Care, and Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation. 

Net Price: $16,647

#4 OREGON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 94.61

Oregon Institute of Technology builds on the skills professional dental hygienists already have through its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This includes coursework in dental hygiene, public health, education, and management. In addition to general education courses, students take 46 credits of professional coursework. Some of these courses include Community & Program Planning, Dental Practice Management, and Healthcare Management. Students are able to start in either the fall, winter, spring, or summer terms, allowing flexibility for students to finish their degree at a time that works for them. From there, students work with academic advisors to build their schedules going forward. 

Net Price: $16,503

#3 OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 95.42

Old Dominion University offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion program. It requires that students complete at least 30 credit hours at Old Dominion University. 120 post-secondary credit hours must be taken in total, including any transfer credit. Students are typically already licensed dental hygienists, and they can then continue into ODU’s program, which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Additionally, students who graduate from this program are eligible for an accelerated option in which students can finish a master’s program at a quickened pace by taking 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses while finishing the BS. 

Net Price: $15,213

#2 WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 95.48

Wichita State University allows registered dental hygienists to complete their baccalaureate degree through its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. WSU requires that students take 32 credit hours of coursework, and students can pace the curriculum however they would like. They can finish in as little time as 15 months or as much as six years. There is no clinical requirement, and coursework can be accessed at any time in the day, offering flexibility for students who are working full-time. This curriculum also provides a foundation for further graduate study, especially for degrees like a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene or a Master’s of Public Health. 

Net Price: $13,541

#1 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Website

Score: 100.00

The Ohio State University’s Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program allows students to bring in between 32 and 40 credits from their previous program. Students must have finished 120 credits of undergraduate coursework to graduate, and it can be completed as quickly as one year. A part-time study is also an option. It is also offered in a distance-based format. Additionally, students must choose from three areas of specialization: Dental Hygiene Education, Expanded Functions, or an individualized program. The individualized program allows students to design their own specialization based on their interests. In the past, students have chosen Business, Public Health, and Research, among others. 

Net Price: $18,042

Featured Online Schools

More Best College Reviews Resources

See all posts