Which Schools Offer Dental Hygienist Programs in Illinois?
Find out which Illinois schools offer dental hygiene degree programs. See requirements, prerequisites and school information for dental hygienist programs in Illinois.
Preview four schools in Illinois offering dental hygiene undergraduate degrees.
What You Need to Know
Dental hygiene programs exist in schools across Illinois, including the 2-year colleges and the 4-year university found below. Students of these associate's- and bachelor's-degree programs will have opportunities to study microbiology, biochemistry, periodontics oral anatomy and physiology, dental radiology and infection control. Programs may include mandatory internship, clinical and laboratory components. After graduating, students could qualify to sit for state and national licensure examinations.
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Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you reach them. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you.
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland Global Campus provides affordable, achievable, and flexible pathways to a college degree for adult learners. With over 90 degrees and certificates, UMGC is built to fit your schedule and goals.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers a wide range of online programs designed for working adults. Earn your degree from a nationally recognized institution with flexible scheduling and strong academic support.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers more than 300 online degree programs, certificates and courses. ASU Online delivers the same rigorous academic programs as on campus, with the flexibility you need to succeed.
Dental Hygienist Associate's Degree Programs in Illinois
Carl Sandburg College
Accredited by CODA and the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), the program offered at Carl Sandburg College consists of 82.5 credits, including a specified number of general education courses. Core courses include didactic, lab and practical sessions and cover such topics as head, neck and oral anatomy; anatomy and physiology; preventative dentistry; microbiology; and community dental health. Completion of the program makes you eligible to sit for the national, state and regional board licensure examinations.
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
- Program Length: Two years (full-time)
- Tuition and Fees: $6,994 per year for in-state; $7,778 per year for out-of-state (2018-2019)
- Prerequisites: Be at least 16 years of age holding a high school diploma or GED, or be 18 or over for non-graduates; COMPASS placement tests in English and math; biology, chemistry and medical terminology courses
- Requirements: Health occupation basic entrance tests (HOBET); CPR certification; faculty interview
- School Type: 2-year, public; 1,860 students (all undergraduate)
Lake Land College
Located in the remote town of Mattoon, Lake Land College offers a dental hygiene associate's degree program that is approved by the ADHA and CODA. There is a minimal number of general education courses required. Core courses consist of didactic instruction, seminars, labs and clinical sessions. The focus of the program is on the removal of stains, deposits and calculus from teeth; oral disease prevention; and patient education. The final course in the program is a review to help prepare you to sit for the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination.
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
- Program Length: Two years (full-time)
- Tuition and Fees: $7,934 per year for in-state; $13,736 per year for out-of-state (2018-2019)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; college-level chemistry course with a grade of C or better
- Requirements: Entrance exams, background check and drug screening
- School Type: 2-year, public; 4,583 students (all undergraduate)
Rock Valley College
Rock Valley College is part of the 48-institution Illinois Community College System. Its ADHA and CODA-accredited dental hygienist program consist of 81 credits and general education courses make up almost one-third of the credits. This may enable you to transfer a number of course credits toward a 4-year degree. Included among the dental hygiene-related courses are dental anatomy, histology and embryology, nutrition and biochemistry, preventative dental hygiene, dental radiology, periodontics and community dental health. Instruction is delivered by way of classroom, lab and clinical sessions.
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
- Program Length: Two years (full-time)
- Tuition and Fees: $8,414 per year for in-state; $15,224 per year for out-of-state (2018-2019)
- Prerequisites: Must complete college-level courses in chemistry, biology and English with a minimum grade of C
- Requirements: Mandatory information session, placement tests, four hours of observation of a dental hygienist, four continuous hours of observation at the Rock Valley Dental Hygiene Clinic
- School Type: 2-year, public; 6,244 students (all undergraduate)
Dental Hygienist Bachelor's Degree Programs in Illinois
Southern Illinois University
Presented through its School of Allied Health, Southern Illinois University offers the only ADHA and CODA-accredited dental hygiene bachelor's degree program in the state. The professional program begins after the freshman year. Those who are already licensed dental hygienists may enroll in a degree-completion program to earn their bachelor's degrees.
Each year's class consists of only 36 students, so competition for placement is intense. Among topics covered are ethics and law for dental hygienists, research methods, instrumentation techniques, medical emergencies, infection control and patient assessment. In addition, you're given the opportunity to develop an individualized course of study, with faculty assistance, and you have expanded clinical time and serve a mandatory internship at a school-partnered facility. Upon graduation, you are eligible to sit for national and regional licensure examinations, which are administered at the school.
- Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
- Program Length: Four years (full-time)
- Tuition and Fees: $14,704 per year for in-state; $29,160 per year for out-of-state (2018-2019)
- Requirements: 35 credits of college-level prerequisites prior to admission to the professional sequence in sophomore year, including anatomy and physiology, chemistry, English, speech, sociology, psychology, math and microbiology; 2 hours of observation of a dental hygienist
- School Type: 4-year, public; 12,817 students (9,552 undergraduate)
In Illinois, four schools offering dental hygiene degrees include Carl Sandburg College, Lake Land College, and Rock Valley College with associate's degrees, and Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree.
