Dental hygiene programs in New Mexico

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

3 schools offer these dental hygiene programs, and New Mexico 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 New Mexico, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

All 3 are the same kind of program: dental hygiene (associate degree).

See the 3 programs

How much do dental hygiene programs cost in New Mexico?

$9,000 to $76,624

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Left out; 7 in 10 of New Mexico's programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Are there free dental hygiene programs in New Mexico?

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.⁵
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. These programs cost $9,000 to $76,624.

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

All 3 dental hygiene programs in New Mexico approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Dental Hygiene
Pima Medical Institute - Central-C61
Albuquerque
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Pima Medical Institute - Central-C61, AlbuquerqueDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$70,300
Price if you pay yourself$76,624
Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute - Central-C61
More details about Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute - Central-C61
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
38%
Earned in a quarter
$17,570
Length
90 weeks, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$5,904
Students counted
183
Earned a year, estimated
$70,300
Price if you pay yourself
$76,624
Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute - Central-C61
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Dental Hygienist - Associate of Applied Science
Dona Ana Community College of NMSU - C16
Las Cruces
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Dona Ana Community College of NMSU - C16, Las CrucesDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$46,300
Price if you pay yourself$9,000
School website, Dental Hygienist - Associate of Applied Science at Dona Ana Community College of NMSU - C16
More details about Dental Hygienist - Associate of Applied Science at Dona Ana Community College of NMSU - C16
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
54%
Earned in a quarter
$11,572
Length
122 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$10,500
Students counted
44
Earned a year, estimated
$46,300
Price if you pay yourself
$9,000
School website, Dental Hygienist - Associate of Applied Science at Dona Ana Community College of NMSU - C16
Dental hygiene (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.
San Juan College-North-C29
Farmington
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
San Juan College-North-C29, FarmingtonDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$51,900
Price if you pay yourself$13,264
Program website, Dental Hygiene, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29
More details about Dental Hygiene, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
55%
Earned in a quarter
$12,967
Length
80 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$10,585
Students counted
38
Earned a year, estimated
$51,900
Price if you pay yourself
$13,264
Program website, Dental Hygiene, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29

How to pay for dental hygiene programs in New Mexico

WIOA funding can pay for dental hygiene programs in New Mexico

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.

Dental hygiene programs in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington and other New Mexico cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in New Mexico

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

Where the New Mexico dental hygiene program numbers come from

Which New Mexico dental hygiene programs are on this list?

These are the dental hygiene programs New Mexico 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 New Mexico offers.

How the prices and results of New Mexico 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.

How reliable are the New Mexico figures?

We leave out the share who finished for New Mexico: 7 in 10 of its programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states.

Sources for the facts about dental hygiene programs in New Mexico

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources

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