10 schools · Iowa
Dental assistant and hygienist programs in Iowa
10 schools in Iowa offer dental assisting and hygiene programs (10 of them public), with 9 certificate and 6 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $35,701 a year after finishing, compared with $31,046 nationally.
All dental assisting and hygiene programs in Iowa
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 14 | $69,833 | $71,502 | $20,000 | $7,050 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | $69,563 | $58,209 | $16,860 | $5,232 |
| Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 16 | $58,489 | $62,661 | $13,000 | $6,786 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 23 | $56,952 | $62,269 | $15,000 | $6,030 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 56 | $49,322 | $43,731 | $10,957 | $6,288 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 27 | $37,744 | $39,061 | $5,500 | $5,306 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 21 | $37,501 | $43,642 | n/a | $6,030 |
| Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA | Community college | Certificate | 15 | $35,701 | $42,137 | $5,500 | $6,786 |
| Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA | Community college | Certificate | 17 | $35,119 | $37,125 | n/a | $7,020 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 14 | $32,845 | n/a | n/a | $5,016 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Certificate | 21 | n/a | $60,562 | $6,011 | $5,232 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 15 | n/a | $59,365 | n/a | $7,050 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | $37,532 | n/a | $7,050 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Certificate | 34 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,288 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,664 |
Cities with the most programs: Council Bluffs (1), Ottumwa (1), Waterloo (1), Ankeny (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Sioux City (1), Calmar (1), Davenport (1), Fort Dodge (1), Marshalltown (1).
What counts: dental support services: dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental lab technology.
Frequently asked questions
How many dental assistant and hygienist programs are in Iowa?
10 schools in Iowa awarded dental assisting and hygiene certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 9 certificate and 6 associate programs.
Which dental assisting and hygiene program in Iowa has the highest earnings?
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $69,833 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest dental assisting and hygiene school in Iowa?
By yearly tuition and fees, Eastern Iowa Community College District in Davenport charges $5,016 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do dental assisting and hygiene graduates make in Iowa?
The typical certificate program in Iowa reported median earnings of $35,701 one year after graduation and $40,599 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in Iowa: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Dental assistant and hygienist programs nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.