Finding the correct answer is tough, despite the abundance of misinformation on the Internet. The next article, on the other hand, contains details on dental hygiene schools in Austin, Texas.

The article provides information about best dental hygiene schools in texas, dental hygienist austin tx salary, dental hygiene program, dental hygienist school austin, and how to become a dental hygienist in texas. You will also find related articles on dental hygiene schools in austin texas on collegelearners.

dental hygiene schools in austin texas

Schools in Dallas offer associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees for students who are seeking licensure or for dental hygienists who hope to advance in the field. This article explores three schools that are 45 minutes or less from the downtown area. It also contains a table of pertinent information, such as tuition and enrollment, that students can use to decide on a school. At the end of the article are a few facts about other Dallas-area schools with dental hygiene programs.

• Students who lack the time or the budget for four years of study can complete an associate’s degree program at Collin County Community College District’s McKinney campus, approximately 30 miles from downtown Dallas.
• Located just two miles from downtown, the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene is part of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Dentistry and offers a bachelor’s degree.
• About 35 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas Woman’s University offers a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene with a special track for students who hold associate’s degrees in dental hygiene.

Comparison of Schools

The following table offers a concise look at important data for each school. Prospective students can use it to weigh their options.

	Collin County Community College District	TAMHSC College of Dentistry	Texas Woman’s University
School Type	Two-year; public	Four-year; public	Four-year; public
Total Enrollment (2019)	35,132*	105**	15,886*
Campus Setting	Midsize city	Large city	Midsize city
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees	$1,624 in-district; $3,004 in-state; $5,014 out-of-state (2019-2020)*	$2,700 in-state; $8,100 out-of-state per semester (2019-2020)**	$7,926 in-state; $18,055 out-of-state (2019-2020)*
% of First-Year Students Receiving Grants and Scholarships (2018-2019)	30%*	N/A-Not reported	88%*
Acceptance Rate (2019)	N/A – Open admissions	N/A – Not reported	93%*
Retention Rate (2018-2019)	N/A	N/A – Not reported	73% for full-time students*
Graduation Rate	13% (35% transfer-out rate) for students who began fall 2013*	N/A – Not reported	43% for students who began fall 2013*

Source: *NCES College Navigator, **TAMHSC.

Collin County Community College District

The dental hygiene program at Collin College calls for classroom study and clinical practice. Admission is selective, and students must meet academic standards, submit references and an essay as well as pass physical and background checks.

Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

It takes four semesters and 68 credit hours to complete the AAS in Dental Hygiene degree program at Collin College. Students must take a chemistry course and two courses in anatomy and physiology prior to entering the program. They learn about orofacial anatomy, nutrition, dental materials and preventive dental care. Other courses include periodontology, oral pathology and dental radiology. Supervised clinical practice begins in the second semester of study and is required each semester thereafter.

TAMHSC College of Dentistry

The bachelor’s program offered by the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene trains graduates for clinical practice in a variety of settings.

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

After completing general education courses, students enter the dental hygiene program in their junior year and learn through classroom work, labs and clinical experience. During their two years of dental hygiene study, courses include dental anatomy, microbiology, oral radiology and periodontics. Under supervision, students will work with patients to develop their skills.

Texas Woman’s University

At Texas Woman’s University, students train through classroom courses, lab work and clinical experiences. The admission process is competitive, and students must complete a pre-dental hygiene foundational courses prior to admission.

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

During their first two years of study, dental hygiene students enroll in prerequisite courses including English composition, Texas history, anatomy, nutrition and microbiology. They complete the four-year, 121-hour dental hygiene program by taking courses such as oral radiology, ethics and dental materials. Clinical work is required in the final three semesters. Dental hygienists who hold an associate’s degree can earn a bachelor’s degree through an online RDH to BSDH program. They must complete Texas core curriculum requirements, courses within the major and electives, but can transfer up to 90 credits to meet some of the requirements.

Other School Options

Tarrant County College, about 25 miles west of Dallas, in Hurst, TX, offers an AAS in Dental Hygiene. Another option is Concorde Career College in Dallas, which also has an associate’s degree in dental hygiene.