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  • 29 Who Shine

STCC named top school for dental hygiene

June 8, 2020

Dental hygiene student Okeila Ledgister with patientA STCC student works with a patient in the dental hygiene clinic in 2019.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Dental Hygiene at Springfield Technical Community College has been named one of the best two-year associate degree programs in the country.

GradReports featured STCC’s program as part of its 2020 Best Colleges list. GradReports’ rankings are the first to be based on median early-career salary data of over 5 million graduates from the U.S. Department of Education's resource, College Scorecard. STCC’s Dental Hygiene ranked highest in the state among community college programs.

“These colleges stand out from the rest with the highest median entry-level salaries for alumni,” GradReports writes on its website announcing the 25 Best Associate Degrees in Dental Hygiene.

GradReports is a data-driven research product by Optimal, a research firm in Kirkland, Wash. In compiling rankings, GradReports factors in the cost of attending the college and debt students carry the first year after graduation.

GradReports says the median salary for a STCC dental hygiene graduate is $57,500.

“We’re delighted to make GradReports’ list of best two-year associate degree programs in the country,” said Meg Loadholt, program coordinator for dental hygiene.

Christopher Scott, dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation, said the national ranking is a testament to the efforts of faculty and staff and students.”

“Dental hygiene at STCC is a competitive program with rigorous standards,” Scott said. “Our students put in long hours to get their degree. They should be proud to graduate from the highly acclaimed program.”

Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases and provide other preventive dental care. The two-year program at STCC leads to an associate degree. Graduates must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene exam and regional clinical licensing examinations before being eligible for state licensure. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

It’s not the only program in the School of Health and Patient Simulation to receive a top ranking. Earlier this year, the Nursing program at STCC was listed among the top two-year programs in Massachusetts, according to Nursing Schools Almanac.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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Springfield Technical Community College provides the information herein as a public service, with the understanding that Springfield Technical Community College strives to achieve the highest standards in content accuracy on its Website. Springfield Technical Community College makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this Website. Errors or omissions should be reported to the web developer: webmaster@stcc.edu. Visitors to our Web pages might see links to Internet resources outside of the Springfield Technical Community College Website: all are provided solely for the convenience of our Website visitors. By providing such links, Springfield Technical Community College should not be considered as endorsing any or all outside sites linked from our main site. When a visitor links to another site that is not an official Springfield Technical Community College Website, the user is no longer on a Springfield Technical Community College Website and thus, Springfield Technical Community College disclaims any responsibility or liability for the services or information offered at such non-college sites. At all times, Springfield Technical Community College makes every effort to accurately present programs and policies to the public. Those responsible for preparation of the catalog, the class schedule, and all other public announcements make every effort to ensure that the information presented is current and correct. However, Springfield Technical Community College reserves the right to modify or eliminate courses or programs and to add, amend, or repeal any and all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures at any time. Springfield Technical Community College assumes no responsibility for publication errors beyond its control. All users of the College's Website shall have no expectation of privacy over such use.

Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Square,
Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 781-7822
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