Dental Hygiene Programs in New Orleans, LA – The Top 8 for 2026

New Orleans has no shortage of options for launching an affordable and rewarding dental hygiene career. This guide profiles the top programs available based on curriculum quality, career outcomes, student satisfaction and commitment to reform principles like accessibility, innovation and community impact. Read on to discover which college aligns with your academic and professional goals.

Comparison Overview

The table below provides a high-level snapshot of key metrics and offerings at New Orleans‘ top dental hygiene schools. Review program lengths, costs, class sizes and more to begin narrowing your choices.

^National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam pass rates within the last 3 years
^Regional Clinical Exam pass rates within the last 3 years
^NBDHE & ADEX pass rates within the last 3 years
^**Job placement rates within 1 year of graduation over the last 3 cohorts
^***Graduates employed in field or pursuing further education within 1 year of graduation over the last 3 cohorts
^**^Bachelor’s Degree program length – Certificate options also available

1. Delgado Community College

• Reputation for small class sizes and robust faculty support
• Good value at nearly $5k per year with high exam pass rates
• Over 50-year track record of graduate success across New Orleans
• Impressive 82% job placement but lagging in further education pursuits

Potential Reforms

• Expand clinic rotation sites to enhance experience breadth
• Leverage Delgado‘s size to drive community oral health initiatives
• Boost graduate further education rates via university transfer pathways

2. Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC)

• Prestigious university environment and innovative simulation tech
• Accelerated Bachelor’s program enables quick degree completion
• 96% exam pass rate and 90% job placement/further education
• High tuition for in-state students hinders access for lower-income applicants

Potential Reforms

• Expand scholarships and financial support programming
• Refine curriculum to better prepare graduates for private practice roles
• Collect comprehensive alumni outcomes data to identify career gaps

3. New Orleans Dental Hygiene Institute

• Tailored college exclusively focused on dental hygiene
• Robust hands-on patient experience with 1,000+ clinical hours
• Optional anesthesia/nitrous oxide certification courses
• Graduates report difficulty securing jobs compared to university programs

Potential Reforms

• Expand career support programming with dedicated job/internship placements
• Forge corporate partnerships to boost graduate hiring rates
• Implement faculty development programs to stay atop clinical best practices

4. Delta College of Arts & Technology

• Short 9-month completion timeline enabling accelerated entry
• Competitively priced at $13,500 flat-rate tuition
• Temp license allows select students to work during studies
• Lacks exam pass/graduate career data transparency

Potential Reforms

• Publicly share licensing exam rates and graduate employment outcomes
• Expand 9-month program to a year while adding externships
• Pursue CODA programmatic accreditation to increase marketability

5. South Louisiana Community College (SLCC)

• Well-rounded Associate’s education with 1,100+ clinical hours
• Early test eligibility helps motivated students expedite licensure
• Above-average career outcomes but student satisfaction lags rivals
• Few unique program attributes relative to lower-cost community colleges

Potential Reforms

• Survey students and refine support services to boost satisfaction
• Expand clinic specialization through preceptorship partnerships
• Leverage SLCC’s size to provide affordable CE and graduate programs

6. Carrington College

• Rapid 2-year degree at one of New Orleans‘ newest dental hygienist colleges
• Robust career outcomes data collection informing program improvement
• Ranks among Louisiana‘s most expensive Associate pathway options
• Mixed graduate feedback on Goodwin University prerequisite experience

Potential Reforms

• Streamline and better integrate Goodwin’s prerequisite courses
• Develop Bachelor’s degree completion pathway for Associate graduates
• Expand payment plan and scholarship options to cut tuition burden

7. University of Holy Cross

• Prestigious faith-based university with accelerated Bachelor’s option
• Early test eligibility allows quick entry into job market
• Graduates secure jobs with major local practice groups
• Few unique programming elements relative to cheaper state colleges

Potential Reforms

• Develop graduate degree pathways in education, research and administration
• Collect data on community oral health impact for reporting
• Expand scholarship funding to improve student socioeconomic diversity

8. Fortis College

• Heavy focus on clinical technique across disciplines
• Option for select students to work under temporary permits
• Lacks key transparency indicators like licensure, outcomes public reporting
• Substantially priced without programmatic accreditation

Potential Reforms

• Share licensure pass rates and graduate career outcomes
• Attain CODA accreditation to signal quality and boost career mobility
• Survey graduates yearly to gauge satisfaction and continually improve