Division of Dental Hygiene

Bachelor's of Science

Information for Prospective Students

Dental hygienists work in a variety of settings including private practice. Hygienists are licensed, professional members of the healthcare team. They work to promote, prevent, and maintain oral health in the population. Career options include, but are not limited to education, sales, health, management, research and public health.

The dental hygiene program at the University of New Mexico is a five-semester curriculum with entry into the program in the spring semester only. Facilities limit each class size to 24 students who are selected through the Division of Dental Hygiene's admissions process. Student selection is based upon grades in the pre-professional courses, state residency, work experience and possibly a personal interview. While out of state applications are considered, New Mexico state residents are preferentially considered. New Mexico residents should be prepared to provide documentation of state residency if requested to do so.

Students accepted into the Dental Hygiene program are responsible for a number of expenses in addition to tuition, housing, board exams, books and other usual college expenses.

1. A one-time fee of approximately $3,750.00 covers the purchase of the student instrument kit and uniforms. This expense is due and payable during the first week of classes in the first year of dental hygiene school. This fee may change without notice.
2. Laboratory and clinical fees are $1,750.00 per year. This fee may change without notice.
3. Additionally, dental hygiene applicants should be aware that upon graduation from the dental hygiene program they must take licensing boards in order to practice dental hygiene. The Dental Hygiene National Board, which tests a candidate's competency in didactic material, costs approximately $130.00. Clinical proficiency is tested in a separate board examination commonly called the "State Board". New Mexico does not conduct a separate state board, but instead is part of a regional licensing body called the Western Regional Examination Board. Although successful completion of this examination enables hygienists to practice in the states participating the regional board, it is quite costly. Applicants should be aware that this cost is approximately $1005.00. Please see http://www.wreb.org/ for more information. Also the state of New Mexico administers a separate jurisprudence exam, which costs $110.00.
4. Additionally, miscellaneous expenses such as graduation expenses and professional dues (student professional association) arise. Such expenses can vary, depending upon the preferences of individual students. UNM's graduation expenses however, are not optional.

Please note that all fees are estimates and are subject to change from year to year.