7 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland 2024

The US state of Maryland houses 7 fully accredited schools offering diverse degree programs and certifications in dental hygiene. These schools are curated and discussed in this post to help interested students find a dental hygienist school of their choice.

If you are looking to kickstart a career in dental hygiene, this post presents well-detailed information on the best dental hygienist schools in Maryland where you can get high-quality dental hygiene education both theoretically and practically to start a successful career in the field. Without any further ado, let’s get started.

Maryland is home to 55 accredited and degree-granting colleges and universities offering a wide range of academic degree programs in diverse fields. You can get a degree online from one of the online colleges in Maryland or earn a degree in the culinary arts at one of the community colleges in Maryland.

The state has a vibrant learning environment that even international students enjoy. One of the programs offered by Maryland higher institutions is dental hygienist programs and there as 7 accredited universities and colleges in the state offering the program. Some of them accept international students and offer a widely recognized degrees.

A dental hygienist is a licensed and qualified professional who promotes dental health by educating and creating awareness on the importance of dental health, treating and preventing tooth decay, cavities, and tooth loss and examining individuals for signs of oral diseases. A dental hygienist is also known as an oral hygienist and the term is used interchangeably to address them. They work in dental clinics and hospitals.

If you are passionate about oral health and want to venture into a healthcare field that doesn’t take much time, then you should consider pursuing a degree in dental hygiene. Dentistry is also another field that concerns dental health but it takes more time to complete the degree, unlike dental hygiene which takes 3 or 4 years to complete.

If you want to become a dental hygienist, you will need to go to an accredited dental hygiene school or an accredited higher institution offering the program and the fastest route is the associate’s degree which takes 3 years to complete. You can also go for the bachelor’s degree program, which takes 4 years to complete if you want to earn higher salaries and get better opportunities in the field.

Another reason you may want to consider being a dental hygienist is due to how in-demand the skill is. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Also, it is among the low-stress jobs that pay well without a degree, you can get a certificate and sit for the license exam to be a dental hygienist.

There are a few colleges in Utah for dental hygiene and probably in every US state but in this article, we are concentrating on the ones in Maryland to offer interested students as many options and opportunities as possible. Now, let’s take a look at how you can earn a degree from one of the dental hygienist schools in Maryland.

Requirements for Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland

To become a licensed dental hygienist, you will have to take both theoretical and practical education in the field at an accredited higher institution and then proceed to get your license. But before that, you will need to apply for a school offering the program.

Here, we have curated a list of the requirements that every applicant for a dental hygienist program in Maryland must meet to get accepted into one of the schools, see them below.

You must have completed high school and earned your high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.
You must have taken science and math courses in high school and complete them with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or higher and a minimum grade of C in chemistry, English, microbiology, English, and human anatomy and physiology.
Submit high school transcripts
Some dental hygienist schools in Maryland set entrance exams, you need to pass it
Complete an entry interview
Clear all medical and legal requirements
International applicants whose first language is not English must take the recognized English language proficiency tests and submit scores.
International applicants must provide proof of finance to fund education
Complete application form
Recommendation letter(s)
A personal statement or essay or statement of purpose may be required.

There are usually 4-year bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene at universities while community colleges have shorter, 2-year degree programs. Before applying to any of these programs, be sure to understand the prerequisites listed above. Due to limited admissions to dental hygiene programs in Maryland, the admissions are usually competitive, to stand above the competition, follow the tips below.

Either meet the recommended high school CGPA or go above and beyond
Get high grades in the entrance exams if given
Gain some experience in the healthcare field by working as a medical assistant at a dental clinic or any healthcare facility.
Write a strong essay or personal statement
Be involved in community programs and other extracurricular activities.

Average Cost of Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland

The average cost of dental hygienist schools in Maryland varies from school to school, degree type, and students’ residency status ranging from $4,276 to $30,421.

How to Become A Licensed Dental Hygienist in Maryland

The following are the steps to becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Maryland:

Apply for a CODA-approved dental hygiene program at one of the colleges in MD
Graduate from the program and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
Pass a Dental Hygienist Clinical Examination from an approved provider
Apply for a Dental Hygienist Licensure with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
Maintain your dental hygienist license in MD.

Best Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland

Below are dental hygienist schools in Maryland that are approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) where you can pursue a dental hygienist program.

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Allegany College of Maryland
Fortis College – Landover
Hagerstown Community College
The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Baltimore City Community College
Howard Community College

1. The University of Maryland School of Dentistry

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry offers some of the best CODA-approved dental hygienist programs in the country. The school offers a “2+2” program for a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and an accelerated Bachelor’s of Dental Hygiene to Master’s of Public Health Program, which allows students to work towards their MPH while in the dental hygiene program.

The School of Dentistry is also offering a new dual degree program in Clinical Dental Hygiene Leader leading to a B.S./M.S.

2. Allegany College of Maryland

This is a community college in Cumberland, MD offering a wide range of associate degree and certification programs. If you are looking to earn a degree in dental hygiene faster then you should consider Allegany College of Maryland. The school offers a 2-year dental hygiene program leading to an associate’s degree.

The program is CODA-approved and admission here is competitive. The requirements include a grade C or higher in high school chemistry and biology. Tuition here is less for residents of Allegany County.

3. Fortis College – Landover

Fortis College in Landover, MD is an institution that provides career education and training programs to people who want to enter the medical, dental, and pharmacy career fields. Dental hygiene is one of the programs offered by the college leading to an associate’s degree upon graduation.

The dental hygiene program at Fortis prepares students to enter the healthcare field as licensed oral health providers.

4. Hagerstown Community College

Community colleges are best at providing technical training education where students learn via hands-on rather than theories and the Hagerstown Community College is no exception. It is a public community college offering varieties of degree and trade programs leading to associate degrees and certifications.

The college houses a Health Sciences Division that offers varieties of dental programs recognized by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The division offers an Associate of Applied Sciences in Dental Hygiene and Certificate in Dental Assisting to prepare you for successful careers in the dental field.

5. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)

CCBC is a public community college in MD with 3 main campuses and extension centers. The college offers over 100 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide range of fields including Dental Hygiene which leads to an associate of applied science. This program is designed to prepare students for successful entry into the dental profession as certified dental hygienists.

Entry to this program is selective, competitive, and limited by the availability of seats. Contact the school to learn about the admission requirement and begin preparing yourself.

6. Baltimore City Community College

This is also another community college in Baltimore offering an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Together with the school above, those who live in or outside of Baltimore and want to enter the dental profession now have two choices to consider for a dental hygiene program.

The program here is also CODA-approved and prepares you to work in a hospital and industrial clinics, military bases, public schools, dental auxiliary schools, and public health facilities.

7. Howard Community College

This is the final school that offers dental hygiene programs in MD. It is also a public community college located in Columbia, Maryland offering technical degree and certificate programs. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene that prepares graduates to become licensed primary health providers and a promoter of oral health.

These are all 7 CODA and ADA-approved dental hygiene colleges in Maryland that trains graduates to enter the oral health profession and become successful in the field. From this list, you should be able to pick one or two colleges to apply for and kick-start a journey into the field.

Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland – FAQs

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”How long does it take to become a dental hygienist in Maryland?” answer-0=” The duration of becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Maryland depends on the degree type you chose. An associate degree, which is the fastest, takes 3 years while a bachelor’s takes 4 years.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”What is the salary of the dental hygienist in Maryland?” answer-1=” According to the Dental Post, the average salary of a dental hygienist in Maryland is $87,540.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”How many dental hygienist schools are in Maryland?” answer-2=” There are 7 CODA-approved dental hygienist schools in Maryland.” image-2=”” count=”3″ html=”true” css_class=””]