US Dental School Rankings & Comparison
US dental (DDS/DMD) programs have no official national ranking, so the honest way to compare them is on transparent, published admissions metrics — how your GPA and DAT line up with each school's enrolled class, its realistic acceptance rate, class size and in-state residency preference.
Every per-school figure below comes from our maintained dataset — we never invent numbers. See the full US dental schools guide.
National context figures from the ADA Health Policy Institute and the Baltimore Sun — see sources at the foot of the page.
Unlike US medical schools, dental programs have never had a recognized national league table. US News & World Report tried to rate them in the mid-1990s, but the dental schools' association advised its members not to take part, arguing that a single table could not fairly capture a degree that blends classroom science with hands-on clinical and laboratory training. Facing a boycott, US News abandoned the project in 1997 and has never reinstated it.
Because there is no authoritative list, the sensible way to compare programs is on published admissions metrics rather than reputation. All 78 US dental schools that lead to licensure are accredited by CODA to the same baseline standards, so a DDS or DMD from any accredited program qualifies you to sit licensure exams and practice as a general dentist — which is why, for most graduates, accreditation matters far more than prestige.
The factor most applicants underestimate is state residency. Public dental schools exist largely to train dentists for their own state, so a published acceptance rate can be far rosier for residents than for out-of-state applicants competing for a handful of remaining seats. We flag each school's in-state preference so you can read its numbers in context, and we suggest pairing a few reach programs (where your stats sit below the class median) with target and likely schools where you are at or above it — weighting public schools in your home state where residency is your advantage.
How we compare these schools
There is no government or US News ranking of US dental schools, so any single ordering is a judgement call rather than an official scoreboard. Our approach is deliberately metric-driven, using only fields that exist in our dataset for each school: median cumulative GPA, median science GPA, the published acceptance rate, class size, and the school's in-state residency preference (with the in-state matriculation share shown where we have it).
We deliberately do not show an MCAT column: dental admissions use the DAT (Dental Admission Test), not the MCAT. Where we hold a school's reported DAT Academic Average it appears in that school's individual profile rather than as a sortable column, because our structured data captures DAT figures as free text rather than a single comparable number. Any metric we lack for a given school is simply omitted for that row rather than guessed.
To read the table sensibly, compare your own GPA and DAT against a school's enrolled-class medians to gauge fit, then adjust the headline acceptance rate for residency: at public schools with a strong in-state preference, the real odds for out-of-state applicants are materially lower than the blended rate suggests, while the same school may be very attainable for residents. Treat the metrics as a starting filter for a balanced shortlist, then weigh non-quantified factors — curriculum style, clinical and patient-population exposure, cost and debt, location, and post-graduation residency placement — that no ranking number can fully capture.
Compare US dental schools by the numbers
All 78 CODA-accredited US dental schools in our dataset. Sort by any column, or search by name, city or degree. Click a school for its full profile, DAT details and how-to-get-in guide.
| Residency | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC School of Dentistry (DMD) Jackson, MS · DMD | 3.74 | 3.67 | 20.7% | 40 | Strong in-state 92% in-state |
| Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS) Indianapolis, IN · DDS | 3.74 | 3.68 | 19.0% | 104 | Strong in-state 82% in-state |
| Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Joplin, MO · DMD | 3.50 | 3.45 | 17.8% | 80 | Moderate in-state |
| Ponce Health Sciences University School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Ponce, PR · DMD | 3.44 | 3.38 | 16.0% | 50 | No preference |
| Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine (DDS) New York, NY · DDS | 3.50 | 3.45 | 15.0% | 150 | No preference |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (DMD) San Juan, PR · DMD | 3.52 | 3.46 | 15.0% | 35 | Strong in-state 95% in-state |
| Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Gurabo, PR · DMD | 3.46 | 3.39 | 14.0% | 50 | No preference |
| University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) Lexington, KY · DMD | 3.60 | 3.55 | 12.4% | 60 | Strong in-state 87% in-state |
| Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC (DDS) Hawthorne, NY · DDS | 3.55 | 3.50 | 11.0% | 214 | No preference |
| Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Little Rock, AR · DMD | 3.50 | 3.45 | 10.0% | 80 | No preference |
| Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) Omaha, NE · DDS | 3.72 | 3.64 | 10.0% | 117 | No preference |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (DDS) Lincoln, NE · DDS | 3.82 | 3.76 | 10.0% | 55 | Strong in-state 70% in-state |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Las Vegas, NV · DMD | 3.59 | 3.54 | 10.0% | 75 | Strong in-state 65% in-state |
| East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Greenville, NC · DMD | 3.75 | 3.69 | 10.0% | 55 | Strong in-state 100% in-state |
| University of Alabama School of Dentistry (DMD) Birmingham, AL · DMD | 3.78 | 3.72 | 9.5% | 83 | Strong in-state 75% in-state |
| University of Florida College of Dentistry (DMD) Gainesville, FL · DMD | 3.82 | 3.77 | 9.5% | 93 | Strong in-state 88% in-state |
| Columbia College of Dental Medicine (DDS) New York, NY · DDS | 3.84 | 3.80 | 9.0% | 85 | No preference |
| University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Pikeville, KY · DMD | 3.52 | 3.46 | 9.0% | 54 | No preference |
| LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) New Orleans, LA · DDS | 3.56 | 3.50 | 9.0% | 70 | Strong in-state 75% in-state |
| Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University (DMD) High Point, NC · DMD | 3.50 | 3.44 | 9.0% | 60 | No preference |
| University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (DDS) Oklahoma City, OK · DDS | 3.59 | 3.52 | 9.0% | 55 | Strong in-state 80% in-state |
| Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Knoxville, TN · DMD | 3.45 | 3.39 | 9.0% | 60 | No preference |
| TTUHSC El Paso Hunt School of Dental Medicine (DMD) El Paso, TX · DMD | 3.52 | 3.46 | 9.0% | 60 | Strong in-state 90% in-state |
| PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Yakima, WA · DMD | 3.50 | 3.44 | 9.0% | 36 | No preference |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) Kansas City, MO · DDS | 3.65 | 3.60 | 8.5% | 108 | Strong in-state 60% in-state |
| University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (DDS) Buffalo, NY · DDS | 3.63 | 3.58 | 8.5% | 85 | Strong in-state 70% in-state |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University Bitonte College of Dentistry (DDS) Rootstown, OH · DDS | 3.52 | 3.46 | 8.5% | 52 | Moderate in-state |
| NYU College of Dentistry (DDS) New York, NY · DDS | 3.62 | 3.58 | 8.0% | 355 | No preference |
| Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Newark, NJ · DMD | 3.62 | 3.57 | 8.0% | 85 | Strong in-state 65% in-state |
| Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine (DDS) Stony Brook, NY · DDS | 3.82 | 3.85 | 8.0% | 46 | Strong in-state 70% in-state |
| ATSU Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD) Kirksville, MO · DMD | 3.55 | 3.50 | 8.0% | 55 | Moderate in-state |
| Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Charleston, SC · DMD | 3.60 | 3.54 | 8.0% | 78 | Strong in-state 75% in-state |
| University of Utah School of Dentistry (DMD) Salt Lake City, UT · DMD | 3.55 | 3.49 | 8.0% | 60 | Strong in-state 75% in-state |
| University of Louisville School of Dentistry (DMD) Louisville, KY · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 7.5% | 120 | Out-of-state friendly 27% in-state |
| University of New England College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Portland, ME · DMD | 3.53 | 3.47 | 7.0% | 71 | No preference |
| UIC College of Dentistry (DMD) Chicago, IL · DMD | 3.77 | 3.71 | 6.5% | 72 | Strong in-state |
| University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (DDS) Aurora, CO · DDS | 3.65 | 3.60 | 6.5% | 62 | Strong in-state 78% in-state |
| LECOM School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Bradenton, FL · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 6.5% | 100 | No preference |
| Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University (DMD) Augusta, GA · DMD | 3.75 | 3.58 | 6.5% | 82 | Strong in-state 88% in-state |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) Downers Grove, IL · DMD | 3.56 | 3.50 | 6.5% | 141 | No preference |
| Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (DMD) Philadelphia, PA · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 6.5% | 140 | No preference |
| Roseman University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) South Jordan, UT · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 6.5% | 150 | No preference |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (DDS) Detroit, MI · DDS | 3.70 | 3.46 | 6.5% | 148 | No preference 51% in-state |
| Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Boston, MA · DMD | 3.65 | 3.61 | 6.0% | 175 | No preference |
| University of Maryland School of Dentistry (DDS) Baltimore, MD · DDS | 3.65 | 3.60 | 6.0% | 125 | Strong in-state |
| University of Iowa College of Dentistry (DDS) Iowa City, IA · DDS | 3.80 | 3.73 | 6.0% | 85 | Strong in-state |
| University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (DDS) Minneapolis, MN · DDS | 3.65 | 3.61 | 6.0% | 95 | Strong in-state |
| University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (DDS) San Francisco, CA · DDS | 3.65 | 3.60 | 6.0% | 145 | No preference |
| Western University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Pomona, CA · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 6.0% | 69 | No preference |
| Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry (DMD) Portland, OR · DMD | 3.80 | 3.75 | 6.0% | 76 | Strong in-state 56% in-state |
| Texas A&M College of Dentistry (DDS) Dallas, TX · DDS | 3.62 | 3.56 | 6.0% | 110 | Strong in-state 90% in-state |
| UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (DDS) Houston, TX · DDS | 3.62 | 3.56 | 6.0% | 105 | Strong in-state 90% in-state |
| UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (DDS) San Antonio, TX · DDS | 3.60 | 3.54 | 6.0% | 95 | Strong in-state 90% in-state |
| West Virginia University School of Dentistry (DDS) Morgantown, WV · DDS | 3.81 | 3.77 | 6.0% | 48 | Strong in-state 40% in-state |
| BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Boston, MA · DMD | 3.66 | 3.62 | 5.5% | 110 | No preference |
| Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD) Mesa, AZ · DMD | 3.43 | 3.33 | 5.5% | 78 | No preference |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Arizona (DMD) Glendale, AZ · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 5.5% | 130 | No preference |
| California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Elk Grove, CA · DMD | 3.60 | 3.55 | 5.5% | 40 | No preference |
| Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) Loma Linda, CA · DDS | 3.65 | 3.60 | 5.5% | 100 | No preference |
| University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Farmington, CT · DMD | 3.65 | 3.60 | 5.5% | 45 | Strong in-state 55% in-state |
| Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) Washington, DC · DDS | 3.55 | 3.48 | 5.5% | 75 | No preference |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (DMD) Fort Lauderdale, FL · DMD | 3.55 | 3.50 | 5.5% | 130 | No preference |
| Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Alton, IL · DMD | 3.58 | 3.52 | 5.5% | 52 | Strong in-state 88% in-state |
| Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (DDS) Nashville, TN · DDS | 3.50 | 3.44 | 5.5% | 70 | No preference |
| UTHSC College of Dentistry (DDS) Memphis, TN · DDS | 3.58 | 3.52 | 5.5% | 120 | Strong in-state 80% in-state |
| VCU School of Dentistry (DDS) Richmond, VA · DDS | 3.60 | 3.54 | 5.5% | 105 | Strong in-state 68% in-state |
| Marquette University School of Dentistry (DDS) Milwaukee, WI · DDS | 3.75 | 3.68 | 5.5% | 100 | Strong in-state |
| University of Michigan School of Dentistry (DDS) Ann Arbor, MI · DDS | 3.70 | 3.66 | 5.0% | 109 | Strong in-state |
| UCSF School of Dentistry (DDS) San Francisco, CA · DDS | 3.70 | 3.66 | 5.0% | 88 | No preference |
| UCLA School of Dentistry (DDS) Los Angeles, CA · DDS | 3.87 | 3.85 | 5.0% | 88 | Strong in-state |
| UNC Adams School of Dentistry (DDS) Chapel Hill, NC · DDS | 3.67 | 3.62 | 5.0% | 86 | Strong in-state |
| Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Cleveland, OH · DMD | 3.70 | 3.66 | 5.0% | 80 | No preference |
| Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC (DDS) Los Angeles, CA · DDS | 3.68 | 3.63 | 5.0% | 144 | No preference |
| University of Washington School of Dentistry (DDS) Seattle, WA · DDS | 3.68 | 3.64 | 5.0% | 66 | Strong in-state 84% in-state |
| Penn Dental Medicine (DMD) Philadelphia, PA · DMD | 3.76 | 3.72 | 4.0% | 115 | No preference |
| The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (DDS) Columbus, OH · DDS | 3.68 | 3.62 | 4.0% | 110 | Strong in-state 70% in-state |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Pittsburgh, PA · DMD | 3.70 | 3.64 | 4.0% | 86 | Moderate in-state 45% in-state |
| Harvard School of Dental Medicine (DMD) Boston, MA · DMD | 3.85 | 3.82 | 2.5% | 35 | No preference |
Showing 78 of 78 CODA-accredited US dental schools. Acceptance rate is the school's published blended rate; at strong in-state schools the real odds for out-of-state applicants are materially lower. An em-dash means we don't hold that metric for the school rather than a value of zero.
How to read the metrics
Median GPA & science GPA
The enrolled class's middle cumulative and science (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPAs. If your GPA sits below a school's median, treat it as a reach; at or above, a target or likely.
Acceptance rate
The school's published blended rate. At strong in-state schools this overstates out-of-state odds, which can be a fraction of the headline number — always read it alongside the residency flag.
Class size
Approximate entering-class size. Larger classes can mean more seats but also more applicants; smaller classes often run more selective, tighter-knit cohorts.
Residency preference
Whether the school leans toward in-state applicants. “Strong in-state” public schools may fill most of the class with residents; the in-state share is shown where we hold it.
39 of the 78 schools in our dataset have a strong in-state preference. Across the set, the median published acceptance rate is 6.5% and the median enrolled GPA is 3.62 — useful baselines to benchmark any individual school against.
Accreditation, not prestige, is what lets you practice
CODA is the only dental-education accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education, reviewing more than 1,400 dental and dental-related programs nationwide. Every school on this page is accredited to the same standard, so the DDS or DMD it awards qualifies you to sit licensure exams and work as a general dentist. Use the metrics to build a realistic shortlist — not to chase a name.
Frequently asked questions
Build your US dental school shortlist
Compare DAT and GPA profiles, in-state preference and interview formats across every CODA-accredited US dental school.
Sources
National context figures are sourced below. Per-school metrics come from our maintained US dental schools dataset; each school's profile links its own primary sources.
- ADA Health Policy Institute — Dental Education (national applicant, enrollment and cost data)
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) — Accreditation overview
- ADEA GoDental — ADEA AADSAS centralized application
- ADEA GoDental — Dental School Guide and Explorer (entering-class data)
- Baltimore Sun (1997) — US dental schools refuse to cooperate; US News cancels ranking
- Wikipedia — Dental Admission Test (Academic Average; 200–600 scale from March 2025)