How Much Do Dental Assistant Programs Cost in Colorado?

The short weekend and evening programs in Colorado that post their prices currently list between $3,250 and about $4,000. A few schools have charged closer to $6,000 in past years. Career colleges and community colleges cost more, but their programs run longer and often qualify for financial aid.

Here's what the private schools we checked are listing right now:

Taken from each school's website on September 17, 2026. The full comparison includes schools that don't publish prices.

Pima Medical Institute and Concorde both run dental assistant certificates of around eight or nine months in the Denver area. Their total cost depends on the campus and on what's bundled in, so ask each one for a written estimate. Both participate in federal student aid.

What the sticker price should cover

At a minimum, you should be paying for classroom instruction, lab time and hands-on clinical practice. Ideally tuition also covers radiography training that meets Colorado's rule, because you can't take x-rays without it. Get the answer in writing. Some schools also include CPR/BLS, a textbook, a set of scrubs and help finding an externship.

The extras nobody mentions on the phone

Scrubs and decent shoes can easily run $75 to $200. Books or online access might be free or cost a couple hundred dollars. A CPR/BLS class, if it isn't included, is usually $50 to $100. If you plan to take a DANB exam, check DANB's current fees before you budget.

Then there's the cost that doesn't show up on any invoice. If you have to drop shifts at your current job to make class or an externship, count that lost pay as part of the price.

Paying for it

Most Colorado programs will set you up on a weekly or monthly payment plan. It's worth calling your local workforce center before you sign anything, because WIOA and other state training grants sometimes cover healthcare programs for people who qualify. Military spouses and veterans should ask each school directly which benefits it accepts. And some dental offices will reimburse training for someone they already plan to hire, so it doesn't hurt to ask.

Does the math work?

At Colorado's typical $21 to $23 an hour (more on pay here), a full-time assistant earns back a $3,500 program within a couple of months of paychecks. The catch is that you have to actually get hired. That's why a school's externship setup and job-placement track record deserve as much attention as its price. Our school checklist has the questions to ask.

Prices checked September 17, 2026. Confirm with the school before you enroll.