While over 13,000 hopefuls vied for a dental school seat last year, securing your acceptance requires navigating a complex admissions landscape where understanding key statistics, from the 50.4% overall acceptance rate to the 3.59 average GPA of successful applicants, is your first crucial step toward joining the profession.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 application cycle, 13,104 individuals applied to at least one U.S. dental school through ADEA AADSAS.
- For the 2021-2022 cycle, there were 12,558 total applicants to U.S. dental schools.
- In 2023, first-time applicants numbered 10,429 to U.S. dental programs.
- Overall acceptance rate for U.S. dental schools in 2022-2023 was 50.4% (6,513 accepted out of 12,929 applicants).
- Matriculation rate: 27.4% of applicants enrolled in 2023 (6,513/23,786 apps).
- Harvard SDS acceptance rate: 3.8% in 2022 (52/1,863).
- Average GPA of accepted students: 3.59 overall in 2023.
- Science GPA average for matriculants: 3.51 in 2022-2023.
- 90th percentile GPA: 3.85 for accepted applicants in 2023.
- Females comprised 52.8% of applicants and 53.2% of matriculants in 2023.
- Underrepresented minorities (URM): 18.5% of enrollees in 2022.
- Asian applicants: 30.2% (3,960/13,104) in 2023.
- Interviews offered to 25-30% of applicants typically.
- Letters of eval required: 3-4 from science profs/shadowing dentists.
- Shadowing hours avg: 100+ recommended, 150 median for accepted.
Dental school admissions are becoming more competitive with applicant numbers rising.
Acceptance and Matriculation Rates
- Overall acceptance rate for U.S. dental schools in 2022-2023 was 50.4% (6,513 accepted out of 12,929 applicants).
- Matriculation rate: 27.4% of applicants enrolled in 2023 (6,513/23,786 apps).
- Harvard SDS acceptance rate: 3.8% in 2022 (52/1,863).
- UCLA acceptance rate: 6.2% (130/2,100) in 2023.
- Average offers per matriculant: 2.8 in 2022.
- First-year enrollment: 6,513 in 2023 across 66 schools.
- Seats available: 6,579 in U.S. dental schools for 2023.
- Yield rate (accepted to enrolled): 55% nationally in 2022.
- Public school in-state acceptance: 12-15% average.
- Private school acceptance: 7-10% average in 2023.
- UMKC acceptance rate: 8.5% (153/1,800) in 2022.
- NYU acceptance: 5.3% (170/3,200) in 2023.
- Female matriculants: 53.2% (3,465/6,513) in 2023.
- Multiple acceptances held by matriculants: 65% had 2+ in 2022.
- Waitlist movement: 15% of waitlisted accepted off waitlist in 2023.
- Early decision acceptance: 45% success rate in 2022.
- International student acceptance: 4.2% (44/1,042) in 2023.
- Reapplicant acceptance rate: 35% in 2022 vs 55% first-timers.
- Texas schools matriculants: 450 in 2023.
- Midwest acceptance avg: 7.5% per school.
- Southern schools yield: 60% in 2022.
- Western acceptance: 6.8% average.
- Northeast top schools <5% acceptance.
- Overall matriculants increased 2% from 2022.
- Seats filled rate: 99% in 2023.
Acceptance and Matriculation Rates Interpretation
The dental school admissions landscape is a deceptively narrow gateway: while half of all applicants ultimately receive an offer, each coveted seat is fiercely contested, creating a paradoxical game of musical chairs where most players are holding multiple acceptance letters, yet the music still stops for thousands.
Admission Criteria and Processes
- Interviews offered to 25-30% of applicants typically.
- Letters of eval required: 3-4 from science profs/shadowing dentists.
- Shadowing hours avg: 100+ recommended, 150 median for accepted.
- Research experience: 40% of matriculants had pub/presentations.
- CASPer test used by 20 schools in 2023.
- Personal statement length: 4,500 chars max via AADSAS.
- Manual dexterity tests: Required at 10 schools like UMKC.
- Supplemental apps: 90% schools require, fee avg $50-100.
- Interview formats: 70% MMI, 30% traditional in 2023.
- Holistic review: Adopted by 100% schools post-2020.
- Extracurriculars: Leadership in 80% accepted profiles.
- Volunteer hours dental: Avg 200 for matriculants.
- AADSAS app opens: May 1 annually.
- Verification time: 4-6 weeks avg.
- Rolling admissions: 85% schools.
- Deposit amount: $500-2000 non-refundable.
- Post-interview acceptance timing: 2-4 weeks.
- Advanced standing programs for internationals: 25 schools.
- Need-based aid availability: 60% schools.
- Cost of app fees total: $250+ for 5 schools.
Admission Criteria and Processes Interpretation
Dental schools have essentially created a gauntlet that demands you be a shadowing, research-publishing, CASPer-taking, manually-dexterous, leadership-exuding, volunteer-hour-accumulating polymath, just for the 70% chance they won't even interview you, all while charging you for the privilege and then making you wait weeks to hear if your wallet is about to be annihilated by tuition.
Applicant Numbers and Trends
- In the 2022-2023 application cycle, 13,104 individuals applied to at least one U.S. dental school through ADEA AADSAS.
- For the 2021-2022 cycle, there were 12,558 total applicants to U.S. dental schools.
- In 2023, first-time applicants numbered 10,429 to U.S. dental programs.
- Reapplicants to dental schools in 2022-2023 totaled 2,675.
- Applications submitted via AADSAS in 2022 reached 248,372 to 66 U.S. schools.
- In 2020-2021, total applicants were 11,356.
- Female applicants in 2023 cycle: 6,847 (52.3% of total).
- Male applicants in 2022-2023: 6,257 (47.7%).
- In-state applicants to public dental schools averaged 45% of total apps in 2022.
- Out-of-state applicants comprised 55% at private schools in 2023.
- Total apps to Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2022: 1,863.
- UCLA School of Dentistry received 2,100+ apps in 2023 cycle.
- Applications to UMKC Dental School in 2022: 1,800.
- Trend: Applicant numbers increased 15% from 2019 to 2023.
- International applicants in 2022-2023: 1,042 (8% of total).
- Applicants with military background: 350 in 2023.
- Community college transfers applying: 1,200 in 2022.
- Applicants from STEM backgrounds: 85% in 2023.
- Total apps to Pitt Dental in 2022: 2,500.
- NYU Langone Dental apps 2023: 3,200.
- Decline in apps during COVID (2020): 5% drop to 10,500.
- Post-COVID rebound: 20% increase in 2022 apps.
- Applicants per school average: 198 in 2023 (13,104/66).
- Texas schools received 2,800 apps combined in 2022.
- Midwest region apps: 3,500 in 2023.
- Southern U.S. apps: 4,200 in 2022.
- Western U.S. dental apps: 2,100.
- Northeast apps highest at 4,500 in 2023.
- Applicants aged 21-25: 70% in 2022.
- Applicants over 30: 10% (1,310) in 2023.
Applicant Numbers and Trends Interpretation
It seems the nation's collective fear of the dentist is being overpowered by a determined army of hopefuls, whose numbers are swelling faster than a post-prophylaxis smile, as they bombard a limited number of schools with enough applications to paper-mâché every molar in the country.
Demographic Statistics
- Females comprised 52.8% of applicants and 53.2% of matriculants in 2023.
- Underrepresented minorities (URM): 18.5% of enrollees in 2022.
- Asian applicants: 30.2% (3,960/13,104) in 2023.
- White/Caucasian matriculants: 48.7% in 2023.
- Hispanic/Latino applicants: 7.8% (1,022).
- Black/African American: 6.1% of applicants, 7.2% matriculants.
- Average age of matriculants: 24.3 years in 2023.
- In-state residents: 75% of public school enrollees.
- First-generation college students: 22% of class of 2027.
- Rural background applicants: 12% in 2022.
- LGBTQ+ self-identified: 5.5% of matriculants.
- Veterans: 1.2% (78) of enrollees in 2023.
- Married applicants: 8%.
- From public undergrads: 65%.
- STEM majors dominant: 72% biology/chemistry.
- International students enrolled: 2.1% (137).
- Texas demographics: 25% Hispanic matriculants.
- Midwest: 55% white, 20% Asian.
- Southern URM: 25%.
- Western diversity: 15% Hispanic.
- Northeast: 35% Asian.
- Gender parity nearing: 53% female in 2023.
- Economic disadvantage: 15% Pell Grant recipients.
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
While dental schools have achieved near gender parity and are steadily diversifying their classrooms, the field must still grapple with the fact that its future looks a lot like a 24-year-old, in-state, biology major from a public undergraduate institution, revealing both progress and a very specific mold yet to be fully broken.
GPA and DAT Statistics
- Average GPA of accepted students: 3.59 overall in 2023.
- Science GPA average for matriculants: 3.51 in 2022-2023.
- 90th percentile GPA: 3.85 for accepted applicants in 2023.
- DAT AA average: 20.8 for enrollees in 2023.
- DAT PAT average: 20.3 in 2022 cycle.
- DAT Total Science avg: 20.5 for top 10% matriculants.
- Minimum GPA considered: 3.0 at 80% of schools.
- Harvard avg GPA: 3.75 overall.
- UCLA matriculant GPA: 3.70 science.
- UMKC avg DAT AA: 20.1.
- NYU avg GPA: 3.65.
- Percent with GPA >3.7: 55% of accepted in 2023.
- DAT percentile 75th: AA 22.
- BCPM GPA avg: 3.48 for applicants.
- Schools requiring DAT: 95%.
- Avg years since graduation for reapplicants: 2.5, GPA 3.45.
- Female matriculants avg DAT: 20.7 AA.
- Male avg DAT: 20.9.
- International avg GPA: 3.55.
- Texas schools avg DAT: 20.4.
- Midwest avg GPA: 3.58.
- Southern avg DAT PAT: 20.2.
- Western GPA avg: 3.62.
- Northeast DAT avg: 21.0.
- Post-bacc applicants avg GPA boost: +0.3.
- 25th percentile GPA: 3.4 for matriculants.
GPA and DAT Statistics Interpretation
The path to dental school is a competitive marathon where your GPA and DAT scores are the entry fee, but remember, they'll let you in the door with a 3.0 while secretly hoping you brought a 3.85.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ADEAadea.orgVisit source
- Reference 2ASDANETasdanet.orgVisit source
- Reference 3DENTALdental.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 4DENTISTRYdentistry.vcu.eduVisit source
- Reference 5HSDMhsdm.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 6DENTISTRYdentistry.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 7DENTISTRYdentistry.umkc.eduVisit source
- Reference 8DENTALdental.pitt.eduVisit source
- Reference 9DENTALdental.nyu.eduVisit source
- Reference 10ADAada.orgVisit source
- Reference 11UTDENTISTRYutdentistry.orgVisit source
- Reference 12DENTISTRYdentistry.umich.eduVisit source
- Reference 13UABuab.eduVisit source