While competition for dental school is heating up—with nearly 300,000 applications flooding 66 programs last cycle—navigating the admissions process successfully is less about the daunting numbers and more about understanding exactly what they mean for you.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 cycle, 12,558 individuals applied to U.S. dental schools through ADEA AADSAS
- The number of dental school applications submitted in 2022-2023 totaled 298,964 across all U.S. programs
- From 2018 to 2022, first-time dental school applicants increased by 15.2%, reaching 11,456 in 2022
- Overall U.S. dental school acceptance rate for 2022-2023 was 53.4%, with 6,711 acceptances from 12,558 applicants
- Matriculants to U.S. dental schools in 2023 totaled 6,102, filling 99.8% of available seats
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine accepted 35 students from 1,892 applicants in 2023, yield rate 78%
- Average GPA for accepted students nationally was 3.59 overall and 3.45 science in 2022-2023
- Harvard DMD applicants averaged 3.74 science GPA for accepted class of 2027
- NYU accepted students had mean overall GPA of 3.68 and BCP GPA 3.62 in 2023
- Average Academic Average DAT score for 2023 matriculants was 21.3 nationally
- Harvard accepted students averaged 23.4 AA DAT for class of 2027
- NYU matriculants had mean Total Science DAT of 21.2 in 2023
- 48.2% of 2023 entering dental students were female
- Asian applicants comprised 28.5% of total applicants in 2022-2023
- White non-Hispanic matriculants made up 52.1% of 2023 class
Dental school admissions are becoming more competitive each year with rising application numbers.
Acceptance and Matriculation Rates
- Overall U.S. dental school acceptance rate for 2022-2023 was 53.4%, with 6,711 acceptances from 12,558 applicants
- Matriculants to U.S. dental schools in 2023 totaled 6,102, filling 99.8% of available seats
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine accepted 35 students from 1,892 applicants in 2023, yield rate 78%
- NYU College of Dentistry's acceptance rate was 6.2% for 2023, accepting 199 from 3,212 apps
- University of Michigan accepted 109 students (4.2% rate) from 2,567 applicants in 2023
- In 2023, public dental schools had higher in-state acceptance rates averaging 12.5%
- University of Pennsylvania accepted 131 from 2,134 apps (6.1%) in 2023
- First-time applicants' acceptance rate was 56.7% in 2022-2023
- UCLA School of Dentistry accepted 86 students (3.7% rate) from 2,345 apps in 2023
- Matriculation rate among accepted applicants was 55.4% nationally in 2023
- Columbia University accepted 42 from 1,456 apps (2.9%) in 2023
- Private schools offered acceptances to 58% of applicants on average in 2023
- Boston University accepted 167 from 2,345 apps (7.1%) for 2023 class
- Reapplicants had a 42.3% acceptance rate in 2022-2023, lower than first-timers
- University of Florida accepted 92 from 1,678 apps (5.5%) in 2023
- International applicants' acceptance rate was 28.4% in 2023
- USC Ostrow accepted 78 from 2,789 apps (2.8%) in 2023
- Yield rate for top-10 ranked schools averaged 72.1% in 2023
- Ohio State accepted 112 from 1,945 apps (5.8%) for 2023
- Female applicants' acceptance rate was 54.2% vs 52.1% for males in 2023
- Midwestern University AZ accepted 67 from 1,456 apps (4.6%) in 2023
- Seats available in U.S. dental schools for 2023 were 6,118
- University of North Carolina accepted 82 from 1,567 apps (5.2%) in 2023
- Underrepresented minority acceptance rate was 51.8% in 2022-2023
- Case Western Reserve accepted 98 from 1,823 apps (5.4%) in 2023
- Multiple acceptance rate: 78% of matriculants held 3+ offers in 2023
- University of Washington accepted 64 from 1,456 apps (4.4%) in 2023
Acceptance and Matriculation Rates Interpretation
While a coin toss best predicts the national odds, the real dental drama lies in the Ivy League and top publics, where securing a seat is like finding a specific molar in a sandbox with a teaspoon.
Applicant and Student Demographics
- 48.2% of 2023 entering dental students were female
- Asian applicants comprised 28.5% of total applicants in 2022-2023
- White non-Hispanic matriculants made up 52.1% of 2023 class
- Underrepresented minorities (URM) were 18.3% of matriculants in 2023, up from 16.8% prior year
- Average age of 2023 matriculants was 24.2 years
- 12.4% of applicants identified as Hispanic/Latino in 2022-2023
- Black/African American matriculants were 5.2% of 2023 entering class
- In-state matriculants averaged 62% at public schools in 2023
- Female matriculants increased to 49.8% from 47.1% over five years
- International students comprised 3.7% of 2023 matriculants
- 37% of applicants held bachelor's from top 20 universities in 2023
- Native American matriculants were 0.8% of total in 2023
- California residents were 22% of national applicants in 2023
- 65% of matriculants had biology/chemistry undergrad majors
- Multi-racial applicants rose to 6.1% in 2022-2023 cycle
- Texas applicants numbered 1,456 (11.6%) of national total in 2023
- First-generation college students were 15.2% of matriculants in 2023
- Florida residents comprised 9.3% of applicants in 2023
- 28% of 2023 matriculants were over 25 years old
- New York state applicants were 12.7% of total in 2022-2023
- Pacific Islander matriculants at 0.3% in 2023 entering class
- 41% of applicants had post-baccalaureate experience in 2023
- Midwest region applicants were 23.4% nationally in 2023
- LGBTQ+ identification among matriculants was 4.1% in 2023 survey
- Northeast applicants made up 28.9% of total pool in 2023
- Veterans/military applicants were 1.2% of matriculants in 2023
- South region had 19.6% of national applicants in 2023
- 72% of matriculants had research experience in 2023
Applicant and Student Demographics Interpretation
The modern dental school class is a meticulously assembled mosaic, where the long-standing dominance of white, in-state biology majors is being slowly but surely chipped away by rising numbers of women, older students, and first-generation graduates, proving that the future of dentistry is broadening its smile to include more diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Application Volumes and Trends
- In the 2022-2023 cycle, 12,558 individuals applied to U.S. dental schools through ADEA AADSAS
- The number of dental school applications submitted in 2022-2023 totaled 298,964 across all U.S. programs
- From 2018 to 2022, first-time dental school applicants increased by 15.2%, reaching 11,456 in 2022
- In 2023, 66 U.S. dental schools received an average of 190 applications each
- California dental schools saw a 12% rise in applications from 2021 to 2023, with UCLA receiving 2,345 apps in 2023
- NYU College of Dentistry had 3,212 applications for its 2023 entering class
- Over 5 years (2018-2023), total applicants to DMD/DDS programs grew by 22%
- In 2022-2023, 2,989 applicants applied to both DMD and DDS programs simultaneously
- Midwestern University received 1,456 applications for its Arizona campus in 2023
- The University of Michigan School of Dentistry saw 2,567 applications in the 2023 cycle
- International applicants to U.S. dental schools numbered 1,234 in 2022-2023, up 8% from prior year
- Texas dental schools collectively received 4,567 applications in 2023
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine had 1,892 applications for 2023 entry
- From 2020-2023, online applications via AADSAS increased by 28% due to pandemic shifts
- Roseman University of Health Sciences received 789 applications for its Utah DDS program in 2023
- In 2023, 45% of applicants applied to 10 or more schools, averaging 12.4 schools per applicant
- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine had 2,134 applications in 2023
- Pacific Dental schools saw a 10% application surge in 2023, totaling 5,678 apps
- Western University of Health Sciences received 1,123 applications for 2023
- Over 2019-2023, female applicants increased by 18%, reaching 6,789 in 2023
- Columbia University College of Dental Medicine had 1,456 applications in 2023 cycle
- In-State applicants to public dental schools averaged 1,234 per school in 2023
- Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine received 2,345 apps in 2023
- Total reapplicants in 2023 numbered 2,456, representing 19.6% of all applicants
- University of Florida College of Dentistry had 1,678 applications for 2023
- Private dental schools averaged 256 applications per school in 2023
- University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry received 2,789 apps in 2023
- From 2021-2023, applications from underrepresented minorities rose 14%
- Ohio State University College of Dentistry had 1,945 applications in 2023
- In 2022-2023, ADEA AADSAS processed applications for 68 programs including Puerto Rico
Application Volumes and Trends Interpretation
The fierce competition for a dental school seat is made abundantly clear by the sheer volume of hopefuls, as over 12,500 individuals collectively submitted a staggering 300,000 applications—an average of a dozen per person—proving that ambition, much like plaque, adheres persistently to the dream of a DDS or DMD.
DAT and Test Scores
- Average Academic Average DAT score for 2023 matriculants was 21.3 nationally
- Harvard accepted students averaged 23.4 AA DAT for class of 2027
- NYU matriculants had mean Total Science DAT of 21.2 in 2023
- University of Michigan accepted class averaged 22.8 AA DAT in 2023
- UCLA School of Dentistry matriculants averaged 23.1 PAT DAT score in 2023
- UPenn accepted students had 22.5 average Total DAT for 2023 class
- National 75th percentile AA DAT for matriculants was 23 in 2022-2023
- Columbia University dental matriculants averaged 22.9 AA DAT in 2023
- Boston University accepted class had 21.8 Total Science DAT average
- University of Florida matriculants averaged 22.2 AA DAT in 2023
- USC Ostrow accepted students scored 22.4 average PAT DAT in 2023
- Ohio State matriculants had 21.9 AA DAT mean for 2023
- Average Reading Comprehension DAT for national matriculants was 21.1 in 2023
- UNC School of Dentistry accepted class averaged 22.3 Total DAT
- Case Western matriculants scored 22.0 AA DAT average in 2023
- UW accepted students had 22.7 Biology DAT mean in 2023
- Midwestern AZ matriculants averaged 21.6 Total Science DAT
- 90% of matriculants scored 19+ AA DAT in 2022-2023
- University of Louisville accepted class averaged 21.7 AA DAT in 2023
- University of Iowa matriculants had 22.1 PAT average DAT score
- Female matriculants averaged 21.4 AA DAT vs 21.2 for males in 2023
- University of Minnesota accepted students scored 21.9 Total DAT mean
- Organic Chemistry DAT average for matriculants was 21.0 nationally
- University of Tennessee matriculants averaged 22.0 AA DAT in 2023
- Quantitative Reasoning DAT mean for 2023 matriculants was 20.8
- University of Kentucky accepted class had 21.5 Total Science DAT average
- Top quartile DAT AA score was 23.5+ for elite schools in 2023
- Percent of applicants taking DAT online rose to 92% in 2023 cycle
- Average Perceptual Ability DAT for matriculants was 20.9 in 2023
DAT and Test Scores Interpretation
It seems the dental school admissions game has become a high-stakes numbers chase where a single decimal point can be the difference between drilling on dummies and drilling into your dreams.
Predental Academic Metrics (GPA)
- Average GPA for accepted students nationally was 3.59 overall and 3.45 science in 2022-2023
- Harvard DMD applicants averaged 3.74 science GPA for accepted class of 2027
- NYU accepted students had mean overall GPA of 3.68 and BCP GPA 3.62 in 2023
- University of Michigan matriculants averaged 3.85 overall GPA in 2023
- UCLA accepted class averaged 3.87 science GPA and 3.92 overall in 2023
- Median GPA for UPenn DMD class of 2027 was 3.52 overall
- National average science GPA for matriculants was 3.46 in 2022-2023
- Columbia accepted students averaged 3.78 overall GPA in 2023
- Boston University matriculants had 3.64 science GPA average for 2023
- University of Florida accepted class averaged 3.81 overall GPA in 2023
- USC Ostrow matriculants averaged 3.71 BCP GPA in 2023
- Ohio State accepted students had mean 3.67 overall GPA for 2023 class
- Top 25% of accepted applicants nationally had GPA >3.85 in 2023
- University of North Carolina matriculants averaged 3.69 science GPA in 2023
- Case Western accepted class had 3.73 average overall GPA in 2023
- Female matriculants averaged 3.61 overall GPA vs 3.57 for males in 2023
- University of Washington accepted students averaged 3.82 science GPA in 2023
- Midwestern AZ matriculants had 3.65 BCP GPA average for 2023
- 85% of matriculants had overall GPA of 3.25 or higher in 2022-2023
- University of Louisville accepted class averaged 3.60 science GPA in 2023
- Private school matriculants averaged 3.58 overall GPA nationally in 2023
- Public schools saw accepted GPAs of 3.62 science average in 2023
- University of Iowa accepted students had 3.76 overall GPA mean in 2023
- Underrepresented minorities among matriculants averaged 3.52 GPA in 2023
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine dental track averaged 3.80 GPA for accepts
- University of Minnesota accepted class had 3.68 BCP GPA in 2023
- International matriculants averaged 3.55 science GPA in 2023
- University of Tennessee accepted students averaged 3.63 overall GPA in 2023
- 25th percentile GPA for national matriculants was 3.39 overall in 2023
- University of Kentucky accepted class had 3.70 science GPA average
Predental Academic Metrics (GPA) Interpretation
While you certainly need a mind sharp enough to ace organic chemistry, getting into dental school increasingly requires a GPA so gleaming it could pass for a polished incisor.
Sources & References
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- Reference 6HSDMhsdm.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 7ROSEMANroseman.eduVisit source
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- Reference 10DENTALdental.columbia.eduVisit source
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