So many teeth, so little time. Sure, a hygienist cleans them – but there’s so much more. Play a vital role in patient health.
dental hygienist with a client
35
Recent Graduates
There are 35 recent graduates of this Madison College program.
99%
Student Satisfaction
99% of our recent graduates report they are satisfied with their Madison College education.
$76k
Annual Salary
Our recent graduates of this program reported an average starting salary of $76,260.
Dental Hygienist
Program Number: 105081
Your Degree:
Associate Degree
Area of Study:
Health Sciences
Delivery Method:
Some Online/Some In Person
Estimated Time to Complete:
70 Credits | Finish degree in 2 years
financial aid icon Financial Aid Available
transfer icon Program Transfers
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What You'll Pay
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your tuition costs.

Estimated Program Cost

$15,117.51

Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.
  • Program Overview

    The two-year Dental Hygienist associate degree program at Madison College prepares you to work side by side with dentists.

    The dental hygienist inspects the mouth, administers local anesthesia and chemotherapeutic agents, removes stains and deposits from teeth, applies preventive agents, prepares clinical and diagnostic tests, completes dental x-rays and performs many other services related to mouth care. Dental hygienists also counsel patients about preventive measures such as nutrition, oral hygiene, and dental care.

    Top Career Training

    The Dental Hygienist Program is widely respected by leading dentists throughout Madison, Wisconsin. Students develop top skills from their hands-on experience at our on-campus dental clinic, which serves real patients from the area. Dental hygiene graduates work for many top dental organizations.

    Strong Job Opportunities

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38 percent employment growth for dental hygienists by 2020. In addition to dental technician positions, Madison College graduates work as dental hygienist instructors, dental lab technicians, public school hygienists and more.

    Dental Hygienist graduates are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and clinical examinations given under the direction of the State of Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board, the American Dental Association's Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, and Central Regional Dental Testing Services, Inc.

    Please note: Upon admission to the Dental Hygienist program, you will be required to complete a background check and multiple immunization requirements, and provide documentation of current Health Care Provider CPR certification.

    Program Details

    Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Sciences programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Sciences Forms and Policies.

    Students in the Dental Hygienist program must attend full time. 

    Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. 

    Dental Hygienist classes are offered at these Madison College campuses:

    • Madison - Truax

    YOUR ADVANTAGES AT MADISON COLLEGE

    • Study with award-winning Madison College faculty and receive personalized attention and real-world training.
    • Get vital hands-on experience, working with patients in our on-campus dental clinic located in Madison College’s state-of-the-art Health Education Center at the Truax campus. 
    • Our graduates have an exceptionally high first-time pass rate on the required Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS), a state requirement to practice dental hygiene.

    Careers

    Graduates of the Dental Hygienist program are able to find employment as the following:

    • Dental Hygienist

    With additional education and/or work experience, dental hygiene graduates also may find employment as:

    • Dental Hygiene Instructor
    • Public Health Hygienist
    • Dental Laboratory Technician
    • Dental Sales Representative
    • Member of Dental Examining Board
    • Public School Hygienist
    • Dental Hygiene Administrator in hospital setting

    MATC's Dental Hygienist program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)

    High Demand Program

    The current trend is 3 years between acceptance and the start of core program classes. The application for pre-program re-opened on September 15, 2023. 

    Hoping to start college sooner?

    Check out our other health programs or get in touch with recruitment for individualized help. 

  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    Pre-Dental Hygienist Courses
    10-806-177
    4 credits
    10-806-186
    4 credits
    10-806-197
    4 credits
    Summer Semester
    The following must be taken prior to fall/first semester:
    10-508-101
    1 credit
    First Semester
    10-508-102
    4 credits
    10-508-103
    2 credits
    10-508-105
    4 credits
    Second Semester
    10-508-106
    4 credits
    10-508-108
    3 credits
    10-508-109
    1 credit
    10-508-110
    2 credits
    10-508-113
    2 credits
    10-809-198
    3 credits
    10-999-999
    1 credit
    Third Semester
    10-508-111
    3 credits
    10-508-112
    5 credits
    10-508-114
    2 credits
    10-809-197
    3 credits
    Fourth Semester
    10-508-115
    2 credits
    10-508-107
    1 credit
    10-508-117
    4 credits
    10-801-195
    3 credits
    10-801-198
    3 credits
    10-809-188
    3 credits
  • Admission

    To Apply

    Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.

    • View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
       
    • The application re-opened on September 15, 2023. The current trend is 3 years between acceptance into pre-program status and the start of core classes. It is unknown what the estimated wait time will be for Fall 2024 and forward. The estimated time to enter the core program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
       
    • Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process

    After Acceptance

    Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.

    Additional Notes

    Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Dental Hygienist career.

    It's Free to Apply

  • Petition

    After Acceptance

    After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied.

    Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:

    • Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
    • Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
    • Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
    • Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program

    You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.

    Fall 2023 and Spring 2024      

    Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

    After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core-program courses through the Petition Process.

    Questions?

    Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

  • Transfer Opportunities

    UW System Schools

    The terms of the B.S in Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S degrees and are admitted to the Human Services Leadership at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
    The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher

    Wisconsin Private Schools

    Students witn an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.
    Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
    WTCS wide articulation. Dental Hygiene Applied Associate Degree transfers to the Bachelor's in Dental Hygiene Completion.
    Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.

    Out-of-State Schools

    Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.
    Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.
    Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.
    Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree.
  • Career Outcomes

    After completing the Dental Hygienist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:

    • Model dental hygiene professional code of ethics
    • Counsel clients/patients to reduce health risks
    • Provide community oral health services in a variety of settings
    • Manage infection and hazard control
    • Assess data on all aspects of patient/client health using methods consistent with dental hygienist scope of practice and legal principles
    • Formulate a comprehensive dental hygiene care plan in collaboration with the client and other health professionals
    • Provide preventive and therapeutic services that promote oral health according to the needs of the patient/client
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented client/patient dental hygiene care plan
    • Graduate Summary

      Graduate Report Summary Overview

      2023
      Number of Program Graduates35
      Number of Surveys Sent35
      Number of Surveys Returned13
      Percent of Surveys Returned
      Available for Employment13
      Percent Available for Employment100.0%
      Not in Labor Market
      Percent Not in Labor Market0.0%
      Available for Employment

      2023
      Graduates Employed12
      Percent of Graduates Employed92.3%
      Employed in Related Occupation12
      Percent Employed in Related Occupation100.0%
      Employed in Unrelated Occupation0
      Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation0.0%
      Employed - No Response0
      Percent Employed - No Response0.0%
      Seeking Employment1
      Percent Seeking Employment7.7%
      Reaction To Training at Madison College

      2023
      Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)3.8
      Number of Satisfaction Responses13
      Very Satisfied (4)10
      Percent Very Satisfied76.9%
      Satisfied (3)3
      Percent Satisfied23.1%
      Unsatisfied (2)0
      Percent Unsatisfied0.0%
      Very Unsatisfed (1)0
      Percent Very Unsatisfied0.0%
      Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

      2023
      Number of Primary Reason Responses13
      Preparation for Getting a Job
      Percent Preparation for Getting a Job
      Career Change
      Percent Career Change
      Improvement of Existing Skills
      Percent Improvement of Existing Skills
      Preparation for Further Education
      Percent Preparation for Further Education
      Personal Interest
      Percent Personal Interest
      Other
      Percent Other0.0%
      When Employment was Obtained

      2023
      Number of When Employment Obtained Responses12
      Before Enrollment1
      Percent Before Enrollment8.3%
      While Attending the College4
      Percent While Attending the College33.3%
      After Training at the College7
      Percent After Training at the College58.3%
      Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

      2023
      Number of Employment Location Responses12
      In College District10
      Percent In College District83.3%
      In Wisconsin, Not in District2
      Percent of In Wisconsin16.7%
      Outside of Wisconsin0
      Percent Outside Wisconsin0.0%
      Employer Location Unknown0
      Percent Location Unknown0.0%
      Salary Trend
      Salary Trend2023
      Full Time Employment (Related Job)Full Time Salary Count10
      Average Monthly Wage$6,355
      Average Hourly Wage$36.95
      Average Work Hours per Week35.7
      Part Time Employment (Related Job)Part Time Salary Count1
      Average Hourly Wage$50.00
      Average Work Hours per Week31.5
    • Graduate Employers

      Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023
      Employer(s)Job TitleCity*State**Positions
      Artisan DentalDental Hygienist
      Children's Dental CenterDental Hygienist
      Children's Dental CenterDental HygienistSun Prairie
      East Grove DentalDental Hygienist
      Eckdnal Family DentistryDental HygienistMonroe
      Fastpark DentalDental Hygienist
      First Choice Dental GroupDental Hygienist
      Madison Family Dental AssociatesRegistered Dental Hygienist
      Madison No Fear DentistryDental Hygienist
      Oak Park DentalDental Hygienist
      Precision Dental MKEDental HygienistMilwaukee

      * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

      ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

      *** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu

Contact the School of Health Sciences

Madison Truax Campus
Health Building, 103

1705 Hoffman Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

healthsciences@madisoncollege.edu
608.616.1250

Hours

  • Monday – Thursday: 8 am - 4 pm
  • Friday: 8 am - 12 pm (Help by phone or email)
Ready to get started?
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