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Did you know that bachelor’s degree students don’t earn their degree within 8 years? If you count yourself among them, you’re certainly not alone.  Thinking about going back to school to finish your degree? Check out degree completion programs, which take your transferable credits from your first go at school and help you get back on track to graduation and earning your degree. Substantial financial aid and scholarships are also often available, making your path to success a bit easier. One of the most popular fields of study within degree completion programs is dental hygiene. And why shouldn’t it be?  Studying to become a dental hygienist puts you in an excellent position for career growth () and salary (median was $94k in 2o24). In today’s blog, we’ll review the ins and outs of the best online dental hygiene programs.

How to Find the Best Online Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Programs

If you’re looking to find a degree completion program in dental hygiene, it might also track that you’re searching for an online option. An online dental hygiene degree completion program provides you with the flexibility you might need to keep your current job, take care of your family, and still get your degree.

Figuring out which online dental hygiene degree completion program is for you, though, might be a little tricky. Most programs are 100% online, meaning you can complete them from the comfort of your own home without ever stepping foot on campus. Others, however, are hybrid programs that do require some on-campus visits for labs, exams, and specific courses. Some programs even let you choose if you want a 100% online experience or if you want to blend in some in-person elements. Choosing the model that’s right for you really depends on the kind of person you are and the offerings that are available in your immediate vicinity.

100% Online

Attending a 100% online dental hygiene degree completion program means that you will need to put into practice the organizational skills to keep up with your studies without showing up face-to-face in a classroom. This can be a huge boon for some students—and the total downfall of others.

The vast majority of the programs that we’ve ranked on our list have some kind of fully online option. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll never have to attend live classes via Zoom. But it does mean that you should start to prepare yourself for the work that comes with studying fully from home.

Hybrid Programs (Some Campus Visits Required)

Other online dental hygiene degree completion programs do require you to come to campus or physically attend an internship.

Are you able to fit fixed course times around your other work and personal obligations? How far away is campus from your work and home? Can you fit travel time and transportation expenses into your existing budget? Those are big questions you’ll have to ask yourself as you consider what type of program to attend.

Accreditation

The other big thing you’ll want to consider is accreditation. The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is one of the most important national organizations that accredits dental hygiene programs. Their stamp of approval on an online dental hygienist program is ultra important, because with online education, you want to make sure that you’re applying to and attending a quality program that will properly prepare you for your career ahead. There are also other associations that accredit higher education dental hygiene programs.

Our list contains only programs that are accredited. You can rest assured that attending one of these programs will grant you a quality degree from a credible institution.

Best Online Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Programs

To help keep things simple, we’ve organized these programs alphabetically by state. That way, if you have some kind of need or desire for an in-person component, you’ll know you can search for a program that’s available in your state.

If a program is 100% online and not in your state, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do more research into that program and see if it’s a right fit for you.

Now, each of the 50 states does not have an online dental hygiene degree completion program. Sorry, Washington State. And some states have more than one. (We’re looking at you, Pennsylvania!) Some universities also offer complete hybrid and online dental hygiene programs, and we’ve included those, too. We’re hoping to provide you with all the options available so that you can make the best choice for yourself.

Best Online Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Programs

1) Arizona:

– NAU’s degree completion program is nationally recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).
– You can earn “non-traditional credits” and get up to 26 credit hours at no cost to you.
– NAU’s program is 100% online with no in-person requirements.

2) California:

– Loma Linda’s program is accredited by the ADA.
– You can finish with 113 credits in just 2 years.
– You need to have 96 quarters or 64 semester units with a C or better to enroll.

3) California:

– Go from your ASDH to your BSDH.
– West LA College’s program is accredited by the ACCJC.
– There are no in-person courses.

4) Colorado:

– CCD’s program will grant you a BAS in dental hygiene.
– Start your career with CCD and continue with their continuing education courses.
– This program is completely online.

5) Colorado:

– PCC’s program is a full BAS completion program open to those who have graduated from a regionally accredited dental hygiene program.
– You need to already have a license to attend.
– This program is entirely online.

6) Connecticut:

– Bridgeport allows you the option to complete your degree in the 100% online format or on campus, as well.
– Transfer up to 90 credits.
– Complete your degree in just 2 years, depending on the credits you transfer.

7) Connecticut:

– This degree completion program is designed for practicing dental hygienists.
– Your work experience is also used to assess your coursework.
– If you really want a “hybrid” experience, experience your senior year abroad in Tuscany.

8) Florida:

– St. Petersburg College is Florida’s only dental hygiene bachelor’s degree program offered completely online.
– Dental hygienists in the St. Petersburg-Tampa-Clearwater area can bring home an average of $82,090 every year.
– The college also offers continuing education courses after you earn your degree.

9) Georgia:

– Augusta offers an accredited 2+2 program.
– Students must complete their first and second years at an accredited college and then enter Augusta.
– The program will prepare you to obtain national and state licensures.

10) Georgia:

– Clayton State offers an RDH–BSDH degree completion program.
– It’s open to registered dental hygienists.
– This course will prepare you for advanced practice.

11) Georgia:

– Georgia Highlands offers an RDH to BSDH degree completion program.
– You can take either 8-week or 16-week courses.
– The required internship can be completed in your local community; you don’t need to visit campus.

12) Indiana:

– Applicants need to have completed their prerequisites at IU Indianapolis or another college or university.
– Costs are dependent on in-state/out-of-state status.
– You’ll be able to complete some courses online, but you’ll also need to visit campus either in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne.

13) Kansas:

– Wichita State offers an RDH to BSDH post-licensure program.
– This program is entirely online.
– You can complete it in as few as 15 months.

14) Kentucky:

– WKU offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene with Emphasis in Clinical Teaching.
– They also offer an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene.
– This program does require on-campus visits.

15) Maine:

– University of Maine’s program has a heavier emphasis on in-person coursework.
– However, you can finish selected BS degree completion coursework in an online format.
– Campus work can happen either in Augusta or Bangor.

16) Massachusetts:

– MCPHS offers an AS to MS Bridge Program.
– This is the nation’s only bridge program and allows you to go from your associate’s degree directly into your master’s.
– This program prepares you for clinical work, education, administration, research, or other professional roles.

17) Michigan:

– Ferris offers “web-native” courses that were built to be online.
– There is no in-person component.
– They offer to help connect you with financial aid options.

18) Michigan:

– Michigan offers an Accelerated Online AS-MS in Dental Hygiene Pathway.
– The program draws on the “successful E-Learning Degree Completion (BS) program.”
– The pathway reduces the time needed for completion from 4 to 3 years.

19) Minnesota:

– Minnesota State’s program is a bachelor’s degree completion program for licensed hygienists.
– Students currently enrolled in another two-year program may also apply.
– This program is entirely online.

20) Mississippi:

– This Advanced Standing Program is for practicing dental hygienists.
– It requires 5 semesters to complete.
– The program is entirely online.

21) Nevada:

– The College of Southern Nevada offers a BSDH degree completion program.
– You can specialize in either Public Health or Education.
– You can attend on a full-time or part-time basis.

22) New Mexico:

– UNM offers an RDH – BSDH Post-Licensure Program.
– Courses are offered in an 8-week format.
– You must hold your licensure in order to apply.

23) New York:

– Farmingdale offers a Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program.
– You’ll complete an internship as a part of your capstone course in your local community.
– You’ll be required to participate in the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) to promote student leadership through community outreach.

24) Ohio:

– The Ohio State offers an RDH to BS degree completion program.
– They also offer a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene.
– These programs are all flexible and entirely online.

25) Oregon:

– Oregon Institute of Technology offers an RDH to BSDH degree completion program.
– You need to have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program or receive departmental approval prior to enrolling.
– You need to have passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam, as well.

26) Pennsylvania:

– Pennsylvania College of Technology is a Penn State affiliate.
– Up to $5,000 annual scholarships are available.
– This program is entirely online, and there is an on-campus dental hygiene program for those just starting out.

27) Pennsylvania:

– Pitt offers both an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree option.
– The programs can be completed online or in a hybrid format.
– Pitt enables you to access job opportunities throughout the tri-state area.

28) Tennessee:

– ETSU’s online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion program is “one of the first and most successful of its kind.”
– You’ll build oral and written communication skills as well as technology skills.
– This program is entirely online.

29) Texas:

– Texas Woman’s offers a number of dental hygiene program options.
– The RDH to BSDH program is entirely online and non-clinical.
– You can complete the program in as little as one year.

30) Utah:

– UVU offers an AAS to BS completion degree program.
– There are more than 250 scholarship options available.
– Students pay either in-state tuition or a flat rate of $270/credit.

31) Vermont:

– Vermont State’s graduates have a 100% pass rate on both the National Board and the ADEX hygiene exams.
– This program is entirely online.
– Complete the program in as few as 2 years.

32) Virginia:

– Old Dominion offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.
– They also offer an accelerated program where in BSDH post-licensure students can move straight into the Master of Science program.
– Both options are entirely online.’

Additional Resources

Check out our other helpful articles about programs and careers in dentistry and continuing your education:

• How to Become a Dental Hygienist
• 54 Famous College Dropouts
• 17 Easiest Dental Schools to Get Into
• DMD vs DDS – What’s the Difference?
• 15 Best Dental Schools in the U.S.
• Dental School Acceptance Rates
• Dental School Letter of Recommendation – A Complete Guide