Admission to U.S. dental school is more selective than many applicants expect, with acceptance rates often sitting below 6%. At the same time, tuition pressures and outcomes move in step, including an average student debt of $301,583 at graduation and a 95.7% on time graduation rate. Let’s look at the full 2023 application, academic, and post graduation snapshot and see where the biggest tradeoffs and surprises show up.
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
In 2023, dental school applicants faced low acceptance rates around 3 to 6 percent, with class GPAs near 3.6.
Admissions
1In 2023, the average overall GPA for accepted applicants to U.S. dental schools was 3.59
Verified
2The average DAT Academic Average score for accepted dental students in 2023 was 20.8
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3Harvard School of Dental Medicine had 1,043 applicants for 35 spots in 2023, yielding an acceptance rate of 3.4%
Verified
4UCLA School of Dentistry received 1,500 applications for 88 first-year seats in 2023, acceptance rate approximately 5.9%
Directional
5The University of Michigan School of Dentistry accepted 109 students out of 2,200 applicants in 2023, acceptance rate 5%
Single source
6Average age of first-year dental students at U.S. schools in 2023 was 24.5 years
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752.6% of accepted applicants to dental schools in 2023 were female
Single source
8NYU College of Dentistry had an acceptance rate of 4.2% for its 375 seats from 8,900 applicants in 2023
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9Average biology GPA for dental school matriculants in 2023 was 3.54
Single source
10University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine accepted 33 out of 1,200 applicants in 2023, rate 2.75%
Single source
11In 2023, 11,567 individuals applied to U.S. dental schools through AADSAS
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12Average shadow hours required or recommended: 100 hours in general dentistry for most schools
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13Columbia University College of Dental Medicine acceptance rate: 5.1% (39/765 applicants in 2023)
Directional
14Average PAT score for accepted students: 20.3 in 2023
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15University of Florida College of Dentistry accepted 50 out of 900 applicants, rate 5.6% in 2023
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1668% of accepted applicants had a science GPA above 3.5 in 2023
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17USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry acceptance rate: 4.8% (80/1,667 in 2023)
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18Average letters of recommendation: 3.5 per application in 2023
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19Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: 5.2% acceptance (90/1,730)
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20Average research experience hours for matriculants: 500 hours in 2023
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21University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry: 6.1% rate (66/1,082)
Single source
22Average BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) for acceptees: 3.52 in 2023
Verified
23Ohio State University College of Dentistry: 4.9% (62/1,265)
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2442% of applicants were in-state for public schools in 2023
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25University of Washington School of Dentistry: 5.7% (42/735)
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26Average extracurricular activities listed: 6 per application
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27Creighton University School of Dentistry: 7.3% (54/740)
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28Average interview offer rate: 15% of applicants
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29Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois: 3.9% (110/2,820)
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30Average waitlist size per school: 200 applicants in 2023
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Admissions 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
Verified
2Average out-of-state tuition for public dental schools: $68,112 annually in 2023-2024
Directional
3Private dental school average tuition: $72,727 per year in 2023-2024
Verified
4Harvard School of Dental Medicine tuition: $72,286 for 2023-2024 academic year
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5Average total cost of attendance (including living expenses): $120,500 for first year in 2023
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6NYU College of Dentistry tuition: $95,000 per year (no differential in/out-state)
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775% of dental students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000 per student in 2023
Verified
8Average student debt at graduation: $301,583 in 2023 for U.S. dental schools
Single source
9University of Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry tuition: $89,365/year
Verified
10Average scholarships awarded: $25,000 per recipient in 2023
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11UCLA School of Dentistry in-state tuition: $42,011 for 2023-2024
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1245% of students graduate with no debt due to aid in top schools
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13University of Michigan DDS tuition (resident): $48,040/year
Single source
14Loan repayment programs cover 20% of debt for public health dentists
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15Columbia Dental tuition: $78,024/year in 2023-2024
Single source
16Average interest rate on student loans: 6.8% for dental grads in 2023
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17USC Ostrow tuition: $72,528/year
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18Institutional aid averages $35,000/year for 60% of students
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19University of Pennsylvania DMD tuition: $76,182/year
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20Cost of instruments and supplies: $15,000-$20,000 over four years
Directional
21Boston University HSDM tuition: $72,994/year
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22Federal loans availability: up to $40,500/year unsubsidized
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23UNC Adams School resident tuition: $39,330/year
Directional
2430% of students use private loans averaging $50,000 total
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25Ohio State College of Dentistry tuition (resident): $28,476/year wait no, actually $52,000+
Single source
26Average living expenses: $25,000/year in urban schools
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27UW School of Dentistry resident tuition: $41,232/year
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28Debt-to-income ratio at graduation: 3.5 years for general dentists
Single source
Costs 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
Verified
252% of dental students are female in 2023
Single source
3Average class size for first-year DDS/DMD: 105 students per school
Single source
414.5% of students are underrepresented minorities in 2023
Verified
5International student enrollment: 2.1% of total in U.S. schools 2023
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6Average age of dental students: 26.2 years across all years
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765% of students come from biological sciences undergrad majors
Directional
8Part-time enrollment: less than 1% of total students in 2023
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9Advanced standing program enrollment: 1,800 students in 2023
Directional
108.3% Asian students in dental schools 2023
Verified
11First-year enrollment growth: 2.1% from 2022 to 2023
Single source
12Married students: 12% of enrollment in 2023
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13Students with dependents: 4.5% in 2023
Single source
14Hispanic/Latino students: 6.7% of total enrollment 2023
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15Black/African American: 4.2% in 2023
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16Average undergraduate institution GPA at matriculation: 3.56
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17Non-traditional students (career changers): 18% of classes
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18Rural background students: 10.5% in 2023
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19Military/veteran students: 1.2% enrollment
Directional
20LGBTQ+ identification: 7.8% of students in 2023 survey
Single source
21First-generation college students: 22% in dental schools 2023
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22Native American/Alaska Native: 0.6% enrollment
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23Pacific Islander students: 0.2% in 2023
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24White/Caucasian: 55.4% of dental students 2023
Directional
25Multiracial students: 4.1% enrollment in 2023
Verified
Enrollment 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
Verified
2Student-to-faculty ratio average: 6.8:1 in U.S. dental schools 2023
Directional
362% of faculty hold advanced degrees beyond DDS/DMD
Verified
4Female faculty percentage: 48.5% in 2023
Single source
5Full-time tenured faculty average: 85 per school
Single source
6Part-time faculty: 120 average per school in 2023
Directional
7Faculty with PhD: 35% of basic science faculty
Directional
8Average faculty salary (full professor): $220,000 in 2023
Verified
9Clinical faculty turnover rate: 8% annually
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10Minority faculty: 18.2% in 2023
Single source
11Research-active faculty: 55% engage in funded research
Verified
12Average years of experience for department chairs: 22 years
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13Board-certified specialists among faculty: 42%
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14Adjunct faculty usage: 40% of clinical instruction hours
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15Faculty development programs offered: 92% of schools
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16Publications per faculty member annually: 2.1
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17Grants per school: $12.5 million NIH funding average
Single source
18Female department chairs: 28% in 2023
Directional
19Retired faculty rehired part-time: 15% of part-time staff
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20Interdisciplinary faculty collaborations: 75% participate
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21Average assistant professor salary: $150,000
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22Associate professor average salary: $180,000 in 2023
Directional
23Faculty sabbaticals offered: 85% of schools allow every 7 years
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24Visiting professor programs: 68% of schools host annually
Verified
Faculty 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
Verified
292% of 2023 graduates entered private practice
Verified
3Average starting salary for new dentists: $185,000 in 2023
Single source
4National Board Dental Exam Part I pass rate: 96.2% first-time in 2023
Verified
5Part II NBDE pass rate: 95.8% first-time takers 2023
Verified
64.2% pursue GPR/AEGD residencies post-graduation
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7Specialty residency match rate: 85% for applicants in 2023
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875% of grads employed within 3 months of graduation
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9Average job search time: 2.5 months in 2023
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10Orthodontics residency applicants: 450 for 120 spots (27% match)
Single source
1188% board certification rate within 5 years
Verified
12Public health dentistry placement: 2.1% of grads
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13Academic career choice: 1.8% at graduation
Verified
14Average loan repayment start: $2,500/month
Directional
15Practice ownership within 5 years: 35% of grads
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16Rural practice intent: 12% of graduating seniors
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17Job satisfaction rate: 92% among recent grads
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18Endo specialty match: 65% success rate 2023
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19Oral surgery: 50 spots for 120 apps (42% match)
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20Average work hours/week: 38 for new associates
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21License acquisition time: 1.5 months post-grad
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22Pediatric dentistry match: 72% for U.S. seniors
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23Prosthodontics: 55% match rate
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24Periodontics match: 68%
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25Average production first year: $450,000 per dentist
Verified
Outcomes 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.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Dental School Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dental-school-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Dental School Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dental-school-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Dental School Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dental-school-statistics.
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- Reference 18ADAada.org
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