2 accredited schools across the North Port metro area trained 19 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 public two-year college in Manatee County graduated 15 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24.
This private for-profit two-year college in Sarasota County graduated 4 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $16,000 for a program of about 9 months.
2 accredited schools in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area graduated 19 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Manatee Technical College with 15.
Among schools that published a program price, Meridian College in Sarasota listed the lowest total: $16,000 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro earn a median $48,190 a year ($23.17/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $47,620 statewide and $48,070 nationally.
CODA-accredited certificate programs commonly take about 9 to 11 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.