3 schools · South Dakota
Dental assistant and hygienist programs in South Dakota
3 schools in South Dakota offer dental assisting and hygiene programs (3 of them public), with 3 certificate and 1 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $37,325 a year after finishing, compared with $31,046 nationally.
All dental assisting and hygiene programs in South Dakota
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Certificate | 18 | $38,826 | $38,313 | $5,500 | $7,622 |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD | Community college | Certificate | 11 | $35,824 | $39,988 | n/a | $8,526 |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,622 |
| Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | $5,500 | $8,365 |
Cities with the most programs: Watertown (1), Rapid City (1), Sioux Falls (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 South Dakota?
3 schools in South Dakota awarded dental assisting and hygiene certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 3 certificate and 1 associate programs.
Which dental assisting and hygiene program in South Dakota has the highest earnings?
Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, where certificate graduates earned a median of $38,826 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest dental assisting and hygiene school in South Dakota?
By yearly tuition and fees, Lake Area Technical College in Watertown charges $7,622 (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 South Dakota?
The typical certificate program in South Dakota reported median earnings of $37,325 one year after graduation and $39,151 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in South Dakota: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · 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
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.