Seattle Dental Hygiene Associate's Degree Programs
Students interested in earning an associate's degree in dental hygiene have a couple of options in the Seattle area. This article looks at the one public school that is within 25 minutes of the downtown area. This school's associate's degree program is approved by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and requires seven quarters or two years to complete. The article also includes a table of information that's important to prospective students, such as tuition, school size and graduation rates.
- Shoreline Community College, in Shoreline, WA, offers dental hygiene programs. Its campus is about 12 miles from the downtown area.
School Information
Students need to consider many factors when choosing a school for their training, and the following table offers an outline of the important aspects of this school. Prospective students should be aware that many dental hygiene programs charge extra exam and program fees in addition to basic tuition.
| Shoreline Community College | |
|---|---|
| School Type* | 2-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2021)* | 4,843 |
| Campus Setting* | Large suburb |
| Tuition and Fees (2021-2022)* | $4,166 in-state; $7,013 out-of-state |
| % of First-Year Students Receiving Some Form of Financial Aid (2020-2021)* | 51% |
| Retention Rate (2020-2021)* | 63% for full-time and 43% for part-time students |
| Graduation Rate | 29% (15% transfer-out rate) (for those who began their studies in 2018)* |
Sources: *NCES College Navigator.
Shoreline Community College
This school's program admits 24 students per year and employs 14 faculty members. Before graduating, prospective dental hygienists gain experience at the school's dental hygiene clinic and nearby community clinics.
Associate of Applied Arts and Science in Dental Hygiene
Applicants to this highly competitive program will need to complete 53-60 credit hours of prerequisite coursework before taking part in an admissions interview. The school also recommends that individuals gain some work experience in the dental field.
Core curriculum consists of 116 credit hours of coursework in such topics as head and neck anatomy, patient exam procedures, radiographic technology, pain control techniques, pharmacology and peridontology.
