With acceptance rates as low as 2.75%, crushing debt, and an average DAT score above 20, getting into dental school is a formidable marathon, but the journey reveals a surprisingly diverse and deeply supported path to a rewarding profession.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the average overall GPA for accepted applicants to U.S. dental schools was 3.59
- The average DAT Academic Average score for accepted dental students in 2023 was 20.8
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine had 1,043 applicants for 35 spots in 2023, yielding an acceptance rate of 3.4%
- Average in-state tuition for public dental schools in 2023-2024 was $40,910 per year
- Average out-of-state tuition for public dental schools: $68,112 annually in 2023-2024
- Private dental school average tuition: $72,727 per year in 2023-2024
- Total U.S. dental school enrollment in 2023: 26,549 students
- 52% of dental students are female in 2023
- Average class size for first-year DDS/DMD: 105 students per school
- Average full-time faculty per school: 145 in 2023
- Student-to-faculty ratio average: 6.8:1 in U.S. dental schools 2023
- 62% of faculty hold advanced degrees beyond DDS/DMD
- 95.7% on-time graduation rate for dental students in 2023
- 92% of 2023 graduates entered private practice
- Average starting salary for new dentists: $185,000 in 2023
Dental school is extremely competitive, expensive, and graduates earn high salaries.
Admissions
1In 2023, the average overall GPA for accepted applicants to U.S. dental schools was 3.59
Verified2The average DAT Academic Average score for accepted dental students in 2023 was 20.8
Verified3Harvard School of Dental Medicine had 1,043 applicants for 35 spots in 2023, yielding an acceptance rate of 3.4%
Verified4UCLA School of Dentistry received 1,500 applications for 88 first-year seats in 2023, acceptance rate approximately 5.9%
Directional5The University of Michigan School of Dentistry accepted 109 students out of 2,200 applicants in 2023, acceptance rate 5%
Single source6Average age of first-year dental students at U.S. schools in 2023 was 24.5 years
Verified752.6% of accepted applicants to dental schools in 2023 were female
Verified8NYU College of Dentistry had an acceptance rate of 4.2% for its 375 seats from 8,900 applicants in 2023
Verified9Average biology GPA for dental school matriculants in 2023 was 3.54
Directional10University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine accepted 33 out of 1,200 applicants in 2023, rate 2.75%
Single source11In 2023, 11,567 individuals applied to U.S. dental schools through AADSAS
Verified12Average shadow hours required or recommended: 100 hours in general dentistry for most schools
Verified13Columbia University College of Dental Medicine acceptance rate: 5.1% (39/765 applicants in 2023)
Verified14Average PAT score for accepted students: 20.3 in 2023
Directional15University of Florida College of Dentistry accepted 50 out of 900 applicants, rate 5.6% in 2023
Single source1668% of accepted applicants had a science GPA above 3.5 in 2023
Verified17USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry acceptance rate: 4.8% (80/1,667 in 2023)
Verified18Average letters of recommendation: 3.5 per application in 2023
Verified19Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: 5.2% acceptance (90/1,730)
Directional20Average research experience hours for matriculants: 500 hours in 2023
Single source21University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry: 6.1% rate (66/1,082)
Verified22Average BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) for acceptees: 3.52 in 2023
Verified23Ohio State University College of Dentistry: 4.9% (62/1,265)
Verified2442% of applicants were in-state for public schools in 2023
Directional25University of Washington School of Dentistry: 5.7% (42/735)
Single source26Average extracurricular activities listed: 6 per application
Verified27Creighton University School of Dentistry: 7.3% (54/740)
Verified28Average interview offer rate: 15% of applicants
Verified29Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois: 3.9% (110/2,820)
Directional30Average waitlist size per school: 200 applicants in 2023
Single sourceAdmissions Interpretation
Getting into dental school requires not just impeccable grades and test scores, but also the rare fortune of surviving an admissions Hunger Games where the odds are perpetually stacked against you.
Costs
1Average in-state tuition for public dental schools in 2023-2024 was $40,910 per year
Verified2Average out-of-state tuition for public dental schools: $68,112 annually in 2023-2024
Verified3Private dental school average tuition: $72,727 per year in 2023-2024
Verified4Harvard School of Dental Medicine tuition: $72,286 for 2023-2024 academic year
Directional5Average total cost of attendance (including living expenses): $120,500 for first year in 2023
Single source6NYU College of Dentistry tuition: $95,000 per year (no differential in/out-state)
Verified775% of dental students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000 per student in 2023
Verified8Average student debt at graduation: $301,583 in 2023 for U.S. dental schools
Verified9University of Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry tuition: $89,365/year
Directional10Average scholarships awarded: $25,000 per recipient in 2023
Single source11UCLA School of Dentistry in-state tuition: $42,011 for 2023-2024
Verified1245% of students graduate with no debt due to aid in top schools
Verified13University of Michigan DDS tuition (resident): $48,040/year
Verified14Loan repayment programs cover 20% of debt for public health dentists
Directional15Columbia Dental tuition: $78,024/year in 2023-2024
Single source16Average interest rate on student loans: 6.8% for dental grads in 2023
Verified17USC Ostrow tuition: $72,528/year
Verified18Institutional aid averages $35,000/year for 60% of students
Verified19University of Pennsylvania DMD tuition: $76,182/year
Directional20Cost of instruments and supplies: $15,000-$20,000 over four years
Single source21Boston University HSDM tuition: $72,994/year
Verified22Federal loans availability: up to $40,500/year unsubsidized
Verified23UNC Adams School resident tuition: $39,330/year
Verified2430% of students use private loans averaging $50,000 total
Directional25Ohio State College of Dentistry tuition (resident): $28,476/year wait no, actually $52,000+
Single source26Average living expenses: $25,000/year in urban schools
Verified27UW School of Dentistry resident tuition: $41,232/year
Verified28Debt-to-income ratio at graduation: 3.5 years for general dentists
VerifiedCosts Interpretation
Dental school tuition statistics reveal that while they promise to fix your bite, they first take a rather large one out of your wallet, leaving many graduates to spend their early careers numbing the pain of debt instead of just their patients' mouths.
Enrollment
1Total U.S. dental school enrollment in 2023: 26,549 students
Verified252% of dental students are female in 2023
Verified3Average class size for first-year DDS/DMD: 105 students per school
Verified414.5% of students are underrepresented minorities in 2023
Directional5International student enrollment: 2.1% of total in U.S. schools 2023
Single source6Average age of dental students: 26.2 years across all years
Verified765% of students come from biological sciences undergrad majors
Verified8Part-time enrollment: less than 1% of total students in 2023
Verified9Advanced standing program enrollment: 1,800 students in 2023
Directional108.3% Asian students in dental schools 2023
Single source11First-year enrollment growth: 2.1% from 2022 to 2023
Verified12Married students: 12% of enrollment in 2023
Verified13Students with dependents: 4.5% in 2023
Verified14Hispanic/Latino students: 6.7% of total enrollment 2023
Directional15Black/African American: 4.2% in 2023
Single source16Average undergraduate institution GPA at matriculation: 3.56
Verified17Non-traditional students (career changers): 18% of classes
Verified18Rural background students: 10.5% in 2023
Verified19Military/veteran students: 1.2% enrollment
Directional20LGBTQ+ identification: 7.8% of students in 2023 survey
Single source21First-generation college students: 22% in dental schools 2023
Verified22Native American/Alaska Native: 0.6% enrollment
Verified23Pacific Islander students: 0.2% in 2023
Verified24White/Caucasian: 55.4% of dental students 2023
Directional25Multiracial students: 4.1% enrollment in 2023
Single sourceEnrollment Interpretation
Dental school enrollment reveals a profession in cautious transition: while women now outnumber men in lecture halls and the average student is a 26-year-old biology major with solid grades, the field is still grappling with how to fully reflect the diversity of the smiles it will one day treat.
Faculty
1Average full-time faculty per school: 145 in 2023
Verified2Student-to-faculty ratio average: 6.8:1 in U.S. dental schools 2023
Verified362% of faculty hold advanced degrees beyond DDS/DMD
Verified4Female faculty percentage: 48.5% in 2023
Directional5Full-time tenured faculty average: 85 per school
Single source6Part-time faculty: 120 average per school in 2023
Verified7Faculty with PhD: 35% of basic science faculty
Verified8Average faculty salary (full professor): $220,000 in 2023
Verified9Clinical faculty turnover rate: 8% annually
Directional10Minority faculty: 18.2% in 2023
Single source11Research-active faculty: 55% engage in funded research
Verified12Average years of experience for department chairs: 22 years
Verified13Board-certified specialists among faculty: 42%
Verified14Adjunct faculty usage: 40% of clinical instruction hours
Directional15Faculty development programs offered: 92% of schools
Single source16Publications per faculty member annually: 2.1
Verified17Grants per school: $12.5 million NIH funding average
Verified18Female department chairs: 28% in 2023
Verified19Retired faculty rehired part-time: 15% of part-time staff
Directional20Interdisciplinary faculty collaborations: 75% participate
Single source21Average assistant professor salary: $150,000
Verified22Associate professor average salary: $180,000 in 2023
Verified23Faculty sabbaticals offered: 85% of schools allow every 7 years
Verified24Visiting professor programs: 68% of schools host annually
DirectionalFaculty Interpretation
Dental schools maintain an enviable 6.8:1 student-to-faculty ratio by deploying a small army of tenured experts, highly-paid professors, and a vast contingent of part-time clinicians, creating a mentorship-rich environment where the wisdom of 22-year veterans coexists with a nearly 50/50 gender split and a steady, if modest, churn of new perspectives.
Outcomes
195.7% on-time graduation rate for dental students in 2023
Verified292% of 2023 graduates entered private practice
Verified3Average starting salary for new dentists: $185,000 in 2023
Verified4National Board Dental Exam Part I pass rate: 96.2% first-time in 2023
Directional5Part II NBDE pass rate: 95.8% first-time takers 2023
Single source64.2% pursue GPR/AEGD residencies post-graduation
Verified7Specialty residency match rate: 85% for applicants in 2023
Verified875% of grads employed within 3 months of graduation
Verified9Average job search time: 2.5 months in 2023
Directional10Orthodontics residency applicants: 450 for 120 spots (27% match)
Single source1188% board certification rate within 5 years
Verified12Public health dentistry placement: 2.1% of grads
Verified13Academic career choice: 1.8% at graduation
Verified14Average loan repayment start: $2,500/month
Directional15Practice ownership within 5 years: 35% of grads
Single source16Rural practice intent: 12% of graduating seniors
Verified17Job satisfaction rate: 92% among recent grads
Verified18Endo specialty match: 65% success rate 2023
Verified19Oral surgery: 50 spots for 120 apps (42% match)
Directional20Average work hours/week: 38 for new associates
Single source21License acquisition time: 1.5 months post-grad
Verified22Pediatric dentistry match: 72% for U.S. seniors
Verified23Prosthodontics: 55% match rate
Verified24Periodontics match: 68%
Directional25Average production first year: $450,000 per dentist
Single sourceOutcomes Interpretation
Clearly, dental school meticulously prepares nearly perfect graduates for lucrative private practices, yet it seems to be producing a legion of satisfied, well-paid professionals who are statistically allergic to academia, public health, and rural areas, while treating specialty residencies like a high-stakes game of musical chairs.
Sources & References
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