10 accredited schools across the San Francisco metro area trained 307 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 Alameda County graduated 63 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $16,617 for a program of about 10 months.
Private for-profit two-year college in San Leandro that reported 60 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $23,604 for a program of about 8 months.
Private for-profit two-year college in Pleasant Hill that reported 38 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $23,604 for a program of about 8 months.
Public two-year college in Alameda that reported 32 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,104 ($8,472 out of state).
This public two-year college in Contra Costa County graduated 30 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($8,304 out of state).
This public two-year college in San Mateo County graduated 20 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($11,340 out of state).
19 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit two-year college.
16 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this public career school. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $5,687 for a program of about 10 months.
Public two-year college in Kentfield that reported 16 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,380 ($9,750 out of state).
This public two-year college in San Francisco County graduated 13 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $0 ($12,960 out of state).
10 accredited schools in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area graduated 307 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Unitek College with 63.
Among schools that published a program price, Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD in Concord listed the lowest total: $5,687 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro earn a median $64,390 a year ($30.96/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.