12 accredited schools across the Riverside metro area trained 631 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 two-year college in San Bernardino County graduated 139 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24, the 3rd-most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $18,349 for a program of about 10 months.
131 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit career school, the 5th-most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $19,900 for a program of about 9 months.
This private for-profit career school in San Bernardino County graduated 93 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $19,900 for a program of about 9 months.
Private for-profit two-year college in Ontario that reported 75 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24.
Private for-profit two-year college in Hesperia that reported 41 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $23,557 for a program of about 11 months.
This public two-year college in Riverside County graduated 38 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,380 ($11,190 out of state).
38 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit two-year college. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $23,557 for a program of about 11 months.
This private for-profit two-year college in Riverside County graduated 25 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $18,879 for a program of about 9 months.
Public two-year college in Rancho Cucamonga that reported 17 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,104 ($11,040 out of state).
14 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit career school. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $15,862 for a program of about 11 months.
14 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this public career school. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,501 for a program of about 10 months.
Private for-profit two-year college in Riverside that reported 6 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24.
12 accredited schools in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area graduated 631 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Concorde Career College-San Bernardino with 139.
Among schools that published a program price, Milan Institute-Palm Desert in Palm Desert listed the lowest total: $15,862 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro earn a median $48,500 a year ($23.32/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $50,110 statewide and $48,070 nationally.
CODA-accredited certificate programs commonly take about 9 to 11 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.