Dental hygiene programs in California

6 dental hygiene programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these dental hygiene programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Dental hygienists check patients for signs of gum and mouth disease and give preventive care such as cleanings. Most have an associate degree in dental hygiene, some a bachelor's, and every state requires a license, in most states a degree from an accredited program and passed written and clinical exams.¹ In every state, the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination counts fully or partly toward the written exam needed for a license.²

In California, 1 of the 6 programs asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, 4 ask for earlier courses first and 1 asks for an associate degree.

All 6 are the same kind of program: dental hygiene (associate degree).

See the 6 programs

How much do dental hygiene programs cost in California?

$2,935 to $4,996 is what most dental hygiene programs in California cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 6 programs with a price. All of them: $2,714 to $7,234

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: 68 to 85 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in California may also offer dental hygiene programs. How these figures are made

Are there free dental hygiene programs in California?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 47 people at 2 of the 6 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Most dental hygiene programs in California cost $2,935 to $4,996. Prices on this page run from $2,714 to $7,234.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 6 dental hygiene programs in California approved for WIOA funding

6 programs

Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personAssociate's degree
Dental Hygiene (AS Degree)
Shasta College
Redding
Accredited school
Associate's degree
Shasta College, ReddingDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree
Earned a year, estimated$53,800
Price if you pay yourself$7,234
9 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Dental Hygiene (AS Degree) at Shasta College
More details about Dental Hygiene (AS Degree) at Shasta College
Finished
22%
Working at 6 months
100%
Earned in a quarter
$13,448
Length
68 weeks, 24 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$6,350
Students counted
245
Earned a year, estimated
$53,800
Price if you pay yourself
$7,234
students trained with WIOA funding
9
Program website, Dental Hygiene (AS Degree) at Shasta College
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personEducation and courses
Dental Hygiene (AS)
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa
Accredited school
Education and courses
Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa RosaDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$5,128
School website, Dental Hygiene (AS) at Santa Rosa Junior College
More details about Dental Hygiene (AS) at Santa Rosa Junior College
Finished
85%
Working at 6 months
100%
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
85 weeks, 24 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$28,384
Students counted
88
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$5,128
School website, Dental Hygiene (AS) at Santa Rosa Junior College
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses
Dental Hygiene - Dental Hygiene AS Degree
Cabrillo College
Aptos
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Cabrillo College, AptosDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$71,400
Price if you pay yourself$3,253
38 students trained with WIOA funding
School website, Dental Hygiene - Dental Hygiene AS Degree at Cabrillo College
More details about Dental Hygiene - Dental Hygiene AS Degree at Cabrillo College
Finished
81%
Working at 6 months
89%
Earned in a quarter
$17,851
Length
92 weeks, 15 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$18,011
Students counted
38
Earned a year, estimated
$71,400
Price if you pay yourself
$3,253
students trained with WIOA funding
38
School website, Dental Hygiene - Dental Hygiene AS Degree at Cabrillo College
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses
AS in Dental Hygiene
Taft College
Taft
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Taft College, TaftDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,714
More details about AS in Dental Hygiene at Taft College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
68 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,530
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,714
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses
Dental Hygienist
Moreno Valley College CTE
Moreno Valley
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Moreno Valley College CTE, Moreno ValleyDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,829
Program website, Dental Hygienist at Moreno Valley College CTE
More details about Dental Hygienist at Moreno Valley College CTE
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
64 weeks, 32 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$9,158
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,829
Program website, Dental Hygienist at Moreno Valley College CTE
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
DENHY: Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Diablo Valley College, Pleasant HillDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$4,600
Program website, DENHY: Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree at Diablo Valley College
More details about DENHY: Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree at Diablo Valley College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
Left out
Cost of supplies
$3,962
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$4,600
Program website, DENHY: Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree at Diablo Valley College

How to pay for dental hygiene programs in California

WIOA funding can pay for dental hygiene programs in California

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for dental hygiene programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for dental hygiene programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Dental hygiene programs in California

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 1st of 14
dental hygiene programs here, against the typical state's 3: 6 vs 3

State comparisons use the same figures as the dental hygiene programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Dental hygiene programs in Redding, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and other California cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in California

How dental hygiene programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in California

Where the California dental hygiene program numbers come from

Which California dental hygiene programs are on this list?

These are the dental hygiene programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

How the prices and results of California dental hygiene programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about dental hygiene programs in California

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