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Dental hygiene programs in Washington

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

9 schools offer these dental hygiene programs, and Washington 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 Washington, 1 of the 9 programs takes students without a high school diploma, 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent, 1 asks for earlier courses first and 5 ask for an associate degree.

By kind, the 9 programs here are dental hygiene (bachelor's degree, 7 programs) and dental hygiene (associate degree, 2 programs).

See the 9 programs

How much do dental hygiene programs cost in Washington?

Two-year degrees (2 programs)
$25,671 to $84,458all 2 with a price
Bachelor's degrees (7 programs)
$14,246 to $38,211most of them, usually 68 to 82 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
2 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
60 to 75 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 Washington may also offer dental hygiene programs. How these figures are made

Are there free dental hygiene programs in Washington?

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

All 9 dental hygiene programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

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What you need to enroll
Kind of program
School
How it's taught
How to show the list

9 programs

  • Dental hygiene (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Hygiene

    Pima Medical Institute/Seattle

    Seattle

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pima Medical Institute/Seattle, SeattleDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$97,900
    Price if you pay yourself$84,458
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute/Seattle
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute/Seattle
    Finished
    80%
    Working at 6 months
    86%
    Earned in a quarter
    $24,483
    Length
    60 weeks, 34 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,500
    Students counted
    261
    Earned a year, estimated
    $97,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $84,458
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pima Medical Institute/Seattle

  • Dental hygiene (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Hygiene

    Bellingham Technical College

    Bellingham

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Bellingham Technical College, BellinghamDental hygiene (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$47,500
    Price if you pay yourself$25,671
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Bellingham Technical College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Bellingham Technical College
    Finished
    83%
    Working at 6 months
    94%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,878
    Length
    65 weeks, 19 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $800
    Students counted
    12
    Earned a year, estimated
    $47,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $25,671
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Bellingham Technical College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Dental Hygiene

    Shoreline Community College

    Shoreline

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Shoreline Community College, ShorelineDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,241
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Shoreline Community College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Shoreline Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    75 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,241
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Shoreline Community College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)HybridAssociate's degree

    Dental Hygiene

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology

    Kirkland

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology, KirklandDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,031
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Lake Washington Institute of Technology
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Lake Washington Institute of Technology
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 21 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,031
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)In personAssociate's degree

    Dental Hygiene

    Yakima Valley College

    Yakima

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Yakima Valley College, YakimaDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,250
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Yakima Valley College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Yakima Valley College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    90 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $800
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,250
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Yakima Valley College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)HybridAssociate's degree

    Dental Hygiene

    Columbia Basin College

    Pasco

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Columbia Basin College, PascoDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$37,016
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Columbia Basin College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Columbia Basin College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    75 weeks, 25 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $37,016
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Columbia Basin College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)In personAssociate's degree

    Dental Hygiene

    Clark College

    Vancouver

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Clark College, VancouverDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$37,239
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Clark College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Clark College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $37,239
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Clark College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)In personAssociate's degree

    Dental Hygiene

    Seattle Central College

    Seattle

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Seattle Central College, SeattleDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$39,183
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Seattle Central College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Seattle Central College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    75 weeks, 26 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $39,183
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Seattle Central College

  • Dental hygiene (bachelor's degree)In personPrerequisite courses

    Dental Hygiene

    Pierce College

    Lakewood

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Pierce College, LakewoodDental hygiene (bachelor's degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$44,651
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pierce College
    More details about Dental Hygiene at Pierce College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    90 weeks, 21 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $44,651
    Program website, Dental Hygiene at Pierce College

How to pay for dental hygiene programs in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for dental hygiene programs in Washington

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 Washington

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
13th of 14
dental hygiene programs here, against the typical state's 3
9 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 Seattle, Bellingham, Yakima and other Washington cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Washington

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

Where the Washington dental hygiene program numbers come from

Which Washington dental hygiene programs are on this list?

These are the dental hygiene programs Washington 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 Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington 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 Washington

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Hygienists
  2. Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations: National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List