Located about 48 miles from Gulfport, Pearl River Community College offers the closest dental hygiene program to Gulfport. Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is quite competitive, with only 15 students admitted each year. Admission requirements include providing your high school grade point average, ACT test scores, and a personal interview. Students completing the two-year associate's program have the option of living on campus. Once students complete the program, they complete the required state and national board exams (see reference 1) at the school, and receive their Dental Hygiene license.
Pearl River Community College
101 Hwy 11 North
Poplarville, Mississippi
601-403-1000
prcc.edu
The next closest location to Gulfport is in Jackson, about 161 miles away, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The dental hygiene program is a four-year program, and students who complete it receive a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association. To be admitted to the program, applicants must have completed 16 credit hours in required science coursework, either at the University of Mississippi or a comparable institution.
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State St.
Jackson, MS 39216
shrp.umc.edu
If you are limited to studying only in the Gulfport area, another option is to complete your degree online. The Pennsylvania College of Technology, an affiliate of Penn State, offers a completely online Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene, allowing you to do all of your coursework from the comfort of your home in Gulfport. The College does not require any campus visits, and depending on the amount of prerequisites you already have, you could complete your degree in a little as two years. Several other universities offer similar programs to this, but some require you to have already completed dental assistant training beforehand.
Pennsylvania College of Technology
One College Avenue
Williamsport, PA 17701-5799
570-326-3761
pct.edu