Program Overview
Program Overview
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) offers a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene degree program through its School of Dentistry. This program is designed to provide students with a competitive edge in the job market and prepare them for a broad range of career opportunities in dental hygiene.
Program Details
- Program Type: Major
- Academic Unit: School of Dentistry
- Degree Type: Bachelor of Dental Hygiene
- Standard credit hours: 120
- Delivery Mode: In-person
- Typical Program Length: 4 years
- Typical Course Load: 4-5 per semester
- Estimated Program Cost: $61,524
Why UMKC
UMKC provides access to nationally recognized researchers, advanced laboratories, extensive oral health libraries, and a vast network of employers. Students have the opportunity to learn alongside talented D.D.S. students at the Health Sciences campus and gain valuable experience through volunteer work at various organizations.
Valuable Training Experiences
Entry-level students can learn alongside D.D.S. students at the Health Sciences campus, gaining hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
Opportunities to Volunteer
Students can gain valuable experience by volunteering at organizations such as:
- Give Kids a Smile
- Match Madness
- Lowry Pediatric Clinic
- Mission of Mercy
- Students Take Action
- Dental Care with a Heart
- Special Olympics Health Screenings
- Team Smile
- International Outreach
- Ronald McDonald House
- Jay Doc Student Clinic
After Graduation
Earning a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene can lead to a rewarding career as a dental hygienist. Dental hygienists play a vital role in promoting oral health by providing patient education, cleaning teeth, and assisting with diagnostic procedures. Employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Potential Careers
- Dental hygienist
- Dental education
- Public health
Median Salary
The median salary for dental hygienists is $93,673 per year, based on data from Lightcast.io.
Potential Courses
Oral Health Behavior Change
Prepare to effectively assess and individualize preventative health care through the use of brief, motivational interviewing.
Pharmacology
Understand the major drug groups and common drugs taken by dental outpatients, including basic principles and general theories of drug action, basic pharmacokinetics, their mechanisms of action, and their side effects.
Practice Management
Survey the current relevant issues impacting dental practice economics, communication, and management in a diverse society, as well as the study of jurisprudence and its relation to dental hygiene.
Related Programs and Pathways
- Dentistry (Doctorate)
- Dentistry — Advanced Education in General Dentistry (Certificate)
- Periodontics (Certificate)
How to Apply
- Gather your materials
- Official transcripts
- Names and locations of previous college(s) or high school(s) and dates you attended
- Citizenship, residency, and visa information (if applicable)
- ACT/SAT test scores (optional)
- Complete the online application
- No application fee for domestic undergraduate students — $75 for international students
- Check admissions requirements
Application Dates
- To Start Classes in Fall: Apply by June 15, classes begin in August
- To Start Classes in Spring: Apply by November 15, classes begin in January
Estimated Tuition Per Semester
- Resident Rate: $7,691
- Heartland Rate: $10,586
- Nonresident Rate: $17,613
Financial Aid
UMKC offers a number of automatic and competitive scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students is $12,617. 96% of first-time Roos who qualified for financial aid last year received assistance, and 80% of undergrads received a scholarship or grant.