Vermont Business Magazine October is National Dental Hygiene Month. Vermont State University (VTSU), home to the state’s only accredited dental hygiene program, is recognizing the public health impact of its hundreds of program graduates, as well as its faculty and staff.
Since 2004, the university has graduated 324 students into the workforce, the vast majority of whom are Vermonters with the remaining primarily coming to the program from border communities in neighboring states of New York and New Hampshire. For the past twenty years, VTSU dental hygiene students have successfully passed both the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the American Dental Examiners (ADEX) hygiene examinations. Additionally, the Dental Hygiene program has a noteworthy 100% job placement rate for graduates.
VTSU offers three pathways in the Dental Hygiene program:
- Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene is a three-year, six-semester program with hands-on learning at VTSU Williston’s on-campus Dental Hygiene Clinic. At the end of the third year, graduating students take the national and regional board examinations. Upon successful completion, they become eligible to apply for licensure and pursue employment opportunities in the in-demand field.
- Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is completed in one year after the Associate degree, stacking seamlessly with the Associate degree program and expanding graduates’ knowledge and skills for wider career opportunities.
- Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Online Degree Completion is designed for hygienists returning to school seeking a Bachelor’s degree after successful completion of an associate degree in dental hygiene.
“Many students are drawn to this program because they have experience as dental assistants or recognize it as an excellent career path,” noted Professor Leslie Hills, Chair of VTSU’s Department of Healthcare Professions.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental hygienists earn a median salary of $94,260 (May 2024), and jobs in the field are projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Vermont has approximately 553 hygienists working in the field, over 70% of whom were educated in Vermont.
The program is known for its experiential learning and the hands-on experience students obtain. Over the course of the three-year associate degree program, each student obtains approximately 650 hours of hands-on clinical experience on local patients in the dental hygiene clinic on VTSU’s Williston campus.
“Faculty actively mentor students, modeling effective communication with patients,” Hills added. “It’s impressive to see students evolve from having no familiarity with dental instruments in their first semester to demonstrating confidence and professionalism by the end of their first year.”
“I definitely learn best when I can really do it,” said May Mathieu, a student in the Dental Hygiene program. “The faculty are really good about checking in during clinicals and seeing how you’re doing or if there’s anything you’re iffy on. You feel supported by them and they help you through it.”
Tracey Sherer, another Dental Hygiene student shared, “before you even go into clinic practice, you know what you’re supposed to look at. It's really nice to have this lab with your professors right there with you.”
In notable recent news, VTSU secured $6.2 million in federal Congressionally Directed Spending funding, which is preparing the university to double the dental hygiene cohort capacity from 24 to 48 students beginning in Fall 2027.
“Vermont is facing acute oral health workforce shortages,” stated Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Beth Mauch. “This strategic program expansion will significantly enhance Vermonters access to preventive oral health care across Vermont, especially in underserved rural regions. Our graduates already play a critical role in public health through early disease detection, health education, and frontline care delivery. Expanding this program and increasing the number of hygienists in Vermont's workforce will allow us to continue meeting Vermont’s urgent need for skilled oral health professionals across the state.”
“This program is a true example of VTSU meeting its mission to provide students with high-quality and relevant education with real-world experiences and strong job opportunities after graduation,” Vermont State University President David Bergh shared. “The excellent pass results our graduates achieve on their licensure exams speaks to the quality of the education they receive at VTSU, and dedication of our faculty and staff. We are proud to applaud our students, alumni and employees this month in recognition of their dedication to the profession.”
In addition to their rigorous academic workload and clinical experiences, students also found time recently to volunteer with Special Olympics Vermont for the Special Smiles event at the 2025 Summer Games.
10.20.25 Vermont State University. VermontState.edu
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