3 accredited schools across the Tucson metro area trained 123 dental assistants in 2023–24. Here’s how they compare on cost, length and size, plus what the job pays locally.
Updated October 2026 · Data: IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
Sorted by number of 2023–24 graduates (IPEDS), a proxy for program size and stability.
This private for-profit four-year institution in Pima County graduated 62 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24, the 3rd-most in the state.
Private for-profit two-year college in Tucson that reported 47 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $20,140 for a program of about 8 months.
This public two-year college in Pima County graduated 14 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $2,208 ($7,524 out of state).
3 accredited schools in the Tucson, AZ metro area graduated 123 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Pima Medical Institute-Tucson with 62.
Among schools that published a program price, Carrington College-Tucson in Tucson listed the lowest total: $20,140 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the Tucson, AZ metro earn a median $47,510 a year ($22.84/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $49,000 statewide and $48,070 nationally.
CODA-accredited certificate programs commonly take about 9 to 11 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.