In 2025, the average starting salary for new dentists is $185,000, but the path to that outcome is shaped by admissions metrics, tuition costs, and licensing performance. Even in 2023, accepted applicants averaged a 3.59 overall GPA and a 20.8 DAT Academic Average while graduation happened for 95.7% on time and Board Part I pass rates reached 96.2%. Let’s put these figures side by side and see what they suggest about how competitive dental school really is.
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 applicants averaged strong academics, admissions were highly selective, and graduates achieved excellent outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Admissions30 stats
01
In 2023, the average overall GPA for accepted applicants to U.S. dental schools was 3.59
02
The average DAT Academic Average score for accepted dental students in 2023 was 20.8
03
Harvard School of Dental Medicine had 1,043 applicants for 35 spots in 2023, yielding an acceptance rate of 3.4%
04
UCLA School of Dentistry received 1,500 applications for 88 first-year seats in 2023, acceptance rate approximately 5.9%
05
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry accepted 109 students out of 2,200 applicants in 2023, acceptance rate 5%
06
Average age of first-year dental students at U.S. schools in 2023 was 24.5 years
07
52.6% of accepted applicants to dental schools in 2023 were female
08
NYU College of Dentistry had an acceptance rate of 4.2% for its 375 seats from 8,900 applicants in 2023
09
Average biology GPA for dental school matriculants in 2023 was 3.54
10
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine accepted 33 out of 1,200 applicants in 2023, rate 2.75%
11
In 2023, 11,567 individuals applied to U.S. dental schools through AADSAS
12
Average shadow hours required or recommended: 100 hours in general dentistry for most schools
13
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine acceptance rate: 5.1% (39/765 applicants in 2023)
14
Average PAT score for accepted students: 20.3 in 2023
15
University of Florida College of Dentistry accepted 50 out of 900 applicants, rate 5.6% in 2023
16
68% of accepted applicants had a science GPA above 3.5 in 2023
17
USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry acceptance rate: 4.8% (80/1,667 in 2023)
18
Average letters of recommendation: 3.5 per application in 2023
19
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: 5.2% acceptance (90/1,730)
20
Average research experience hours for matriculants: 500 hours in 2023
21
University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry: 6.1% rate (66/1,082)
22
Average BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) for acceptees: 3.52 in 2023
23
Ohio State University College of Dentistry: 4.9% (62/1,265)
24
42% of applicants were in-state for public schools in 2023
25
University of Washington School of Dentistry: 5.7% (42/735)
26
Average extracurricular activities listed: 6 per application
27
Creighton University School of Dentistry: 7.3% (54/740)
28
Average interview offer rate: 15% of applicants
29
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois: 3.9% (110/2,820)
30
Average waitlist size per school: 200 applicants in 2023
Interpretation
Admissions Interpretation
In 2023, U.S. dental school admissions were highly competitive despite strong academic signals, with accepted applicants averaging a 3.59 overall GPA and a 20.8 DAT Academic Average while top programs like Harvard filled only 35 of 1,043 applications for a 3.4% acceptance rate.
02 · Category
Costs28 stats
01
Average in-state tuition for public dental schools in 2023-2024 was $40,910per year
02
Average out-of-state tuition for public dental schools: $68,112annually in 2023-2024
03
Private dental school average tuition: $72,727per year in 2023-2024
04
Harvard School of Dental Medicine tuition: $72,286for 2023-2024 academic year
05
Average total cost of attendance (including living expenses): $120,500for first year in 2023
06
NYU College of Dentistry tuition: $95,000per year (no differential in/out-state)
07
75% of dental students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000 per student in 2023
08
Average student debt at graduation: $301,583in 2023 for U.S. dental schools
09
University of Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry tuition: $89,365/year
10
Average scholarships awarded: $25,000per recipient in 2023
11
UCLA School of Dentistry in-state tuition: $42,011for 2023-2024
12
45% of students graduate with no debt due to aid in top schools
13
University of Michigan DDS tuition (resident): $48,040/year
14
Loan repayment programs cover 20% of debt for public health dentists
15
Columbia Dental tuition: $78,024/year in 2023-2024
16
Average interest rate on student loans: 6.8% for dental grads in 2023
17
USC Ostrow tuition: $72,528/year
18
Institutional aid averages $35,000/year for 60% of students
19
University of Pennsylvania DMD tuition: $76,182/year
20
Cost of instruments and supplies: $15,000-$20,000 over four years
21
Boston University HSDM tuition: $72,994/year
22
Federal loans availability: up to $40,500/year unsubsidized
23
UNC Adams School resident tuition: $39,330/year
24
30% of students use private loans averaging $50,000 total
25
Ohio State College of Dentistry tuition (resident): $28,476/year wait no, actually $52,000+
26
Average living expenses: $25,000/year in urban schools
27
UW School of Dentistry resident tuition: $41,232/year
28
Debt-to-income ratio at graduation: 3.5 years for general dentists
Interpretation
Costs Interpretation
From a costs perspective, dental school gets steep quickly because average in-state tuition is $40,910 per year for public schools in 2023-2024 but out-of-state jumps to $68,112, and when living expenses are included the first-year total cost averages $120,500.
03 · Category
Enrollment25 stats
01
Total U.S. dental school enrollment in 2023: 26,549 students
02
52% of dental students are female in 2023
03
Average class size for first-year DDS/DMD: 105 students per school
04
14.5% of students are underrepresented minorities in 2023
05
International student enrollment: 2.1% of total in U.S. schools 2023
06
Average age of dental students: 26.2 years across all years
07
65% of students come from biological sciences undergrad majors
08
Part-time enrollment: less than 1% of total students in 2023
09
Advanced standing program enrollment: 1,800 students in 2023
10
8.3% Asian students in dental schools 2023
11
First-year enrollment growth: 2.1% from 2022 to 2023
12
Married students: 12% of enrollment in 2023
13
Students with dependents: 4.5% in 2023
14
Hispanic/Latino students: 6.7% of total enrollment 2023
15
Black/African American: 4.2% in 2023
16
Average undergraduate institution GPA at matriculation: 3.56
17
Non-traditional students (career changers): 18% of classes
18
Rural background students: 10.5% in 2023
19
Military/veteran students: 1.2% enrollment
20
LGBTQ+ identification: 7.8% of students in 2023 survey
21
First-generation college students: 22% in dental schools 2023
22
Native American/Alaska Native: 0.6% enrollment
23
Pacific Islander students: 0.2% in 2023
24
White/Caucasian: 55.4% of dental students 2023
25
Multiracial students: 4.1% enrollment in 2023
Interpretation
Enrollment Interpretation
Dental school enrollment in 2023 totaled 26,549 students, and the mix is still shifting as females make up 52% of students while underrepresented minorities remain 14.5%, with international students at 2.1% and an average student age of 26.2 years.
More related reading
04 · Category
Faculty24 stats
01
Average full-time faculty per school: 145 in 2023
02
Student-to-faculty ratio average: 6.8:1 in U.S. dental schools 2023
03
62% of faculty hold advanced degrees beyond DDS/DMD
04
Female faculty percentage: 48.5% in 2023
05
Full-time tenured faculty average: 85 per school
06
Part-time faculty: 120 average per school in 2023
07
Faculty with PhD: 35% of basic science faculty
08
Average faculty salary (full professor): $220,000in 2023
09
Clinical faculty turnover rate: 8% annually
10
Minority faculty: 18.2% in 2023
11
Research-active faculty: 55% engage in funded research
12
Average years of experience for department chairs: 22 years
13
Board-certified specialists among faculty: 42%
14
Adjunct faculty usage: 40% of clinical instruction hours
15
Faculty development programs offered: 92% of schools
16
Publications per faculty member annually: 2.1
17
Grants per school: $12.5 million NIH funding average
18
Female department chairs: 28% in 2023
19
Retired faculty rehired part-time: 15% of part-time staff
20
Interdisciplinary faculty collaborations: 75% participate
21
Average assistant professor salary: $150,000
22
Associate professor average salary: $180,000in 2023
23
Faculty sabbaticals offered: 85% of schools allow every 7 years
24
Visiting professor programs: 68% of schools host annually
Interpretation
Faculty Interpretation
In dental schools in 2023, faculty capacity looks strong and education focused, with an average of 145 full time faculty per school and a low student to faculty ratio of 6.8 to 1, supported by 62% holding advanced degrees beyond DDS or DMD.
05 · Category
Outcomes25 stats
01
95.7% on-time graduation rate for dental students in 2023
02
92% of 2023 graduates entered private practice
03
Average starting salary for new dentists: $185,000in 2023
04
National Board Dental Exam Part I pass rate: 96.2% first-time in 2023
05
Part II NBDE pass rate: 95.8% first-time takers 2023
06
4.2% pursue GPR/AEGD residencies post-graduation
07
Specialty residency match rate: 85% for applicants in 2023
08
75% of grads employed within 3 months of graduation
09
Average job search time: 2.5 months in 2023
10
Orthodontics residency applicants: 450 for 120 spots (27% match)
11
88% board certification rate within 5 years
12
Public health dentistry placement: 2.1% of grads
13
Academic career choice: 1.8% at graduation
14
Average loan repayment start: $2,500/month
15
Practice ownership within 5 years: 35% of grads
16
Rural practice intent: 12% of graduating seniors
17
Job satisfaction rate: 92% among recent grads
18
Endo specialty match: 65% success rate 2023
19
Oral surgery: 50 spots for 120 apps (42% match)
20
Average work hours/week: 38 for new associates
21
License acquisition time: 1.5 months post-grad
22
Pediatric dentistry match: 72% for U.S. seniors
23
Prosthodontics: 55% match rate
24
Periodontics match: 68%
25
Average production first year: $450,000per dentist
Interpretation
Outcomes Interpretation
Under the Outcomes category, the Class of 2023 shows strong end results with a 95.7% on-time graduation rate and very high board exam performance, highlighted by 96.2% passing NBDE Part I on the first attempt and 95.8% passing Part II on the first try, along with 92% entering private practice.
report visual · Breakdown
Dental school admissions snapshot (2023)
Admissions competitiveness in 2023 varied by school—acceptance rates ranged from low single digits to about mid-single digits.
4.2%
NYU College of Dentistry had an acceptance rate of 4.2% for its 375 seats from 8,900 applicants in 2023
95.7%
95.7% on-time graduation rate for dental students in 2023
Reference
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.
Sources & references
18 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level