7 accredited schools across the San Diego metro area trained 451 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.
Private for-profit career school in Chula Vista that reported 130 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $19,900 for a program of about 9 months.
106 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 $18,862 for a program of about 10 months.
69 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit career school. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $19,900 for a program of about 9 months.
This private for-profit two-year college in San Diego County graduated 51 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $19,571 for a program of about 8 months.
43 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 $19,571 for a program of about 8 months.
This public four-year institution in San Diego County graduated 32 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,104 ($9,048 out of state).
This public two-year college in San Diego County graduated 20 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($10,584 out of state).
7 accredited schools in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area graduated 451 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was UEI College-Chula Vista with 130.
Among schools that published a program price, Concorde Career College-San Diego in San Diego listed the lowest total: $18,862 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn a median $58,120 a year ($27.94/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.