8 accredited schools across the Houston metro area trained 397 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 Harris County graduated 142 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24, the most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,350 for a program of about 12 months.
Private for-profit two-year college in Houston that reported 67 Dental Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,243 for a program of about 8 months.
52 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 $17,400 for a program of about 9 months.
This private for-profit two-year college in Harris County graduated 45 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $17,400 for a program of about 9 months.
31 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this public four-year institution. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $792 ($3,624 out of state).
This private nonprofit two-year college in Harris County graduated 31 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $20,001.
This private for-profit two-year college in Harris County graduated 15 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $21,838 for a program of about 12 months.
14 Dental Assistant credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private nonprofit two-year college. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $13,484.
8 accredited schools in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area graduated 397 Dental Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest with 142.
Among schools that published a program price, Pima Medical Institute-Houston in Houston listed the lowest total: $17,243 for tuition, books and supplies.
Dental Assistants in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro earn a median $43,730 a year ($21.02/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $45,430 statewide and $48,070 nationally.
CODA-accredited certificate programs commonly take about 9 to 11 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.