4 accredited schools across the Memphis metro area trained 351 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 career school in DeSoto County graduated 138 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24, the most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $16,700 for a program of about 9 months.
137 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit two-year college, the most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,997 for a program of about 8 months.
This private for-profit two-year college in DeSoto County graduated 59 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24, the 2nd-most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,995 for a program of about 8 months.
17 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this public two-year college.
4 accredited schools in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area graduated 351 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Delta Technical College-Mississippi with 138.
Among schools that published a program price, Delta Technical College-Mississippi in Horn Lake listed the lowest total: $16,700 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro earn a median $48,200 a year ($23.17/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $46,720 statewide and $48,070 nationally.
CODA-accredited certificate programs commonly take about 9 to 11 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.