US Dental Schools — DAT, ADEA AADSAS & DDS vs DMD Guide
Compare US dental schools. See DAT score profiles, GPA expectations, in-state preference, ADEA AADSAS application guide, interview formats and DDS vs DMD credential details — updated for 2026–27 entry.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Boston, MA
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), founded in 1867, is one of the oldest and most prestigious dental schools in the world. Located in Boston's Longwood Medical Area, HSDM offers a distinctive 4-year DMD program closely integrated with Harvard Medical School, enabling dental students to take medical school coursework alongside MD students. The school produces a large proportion of academic dental leaders and clinician-scientists.
Penn Dental Medicine (DMD)
Philadelphia, PA
Penn Dental Medicine (University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine), founded in 1878, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and consistently ranked among the top dental programs globally. Located in University City, Philadelphia, Penn Dental is closely affiliated with Penn Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania's broader research enterprise. The school is renowned for its periodontics, oral medicine, and dental research programs.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry (DDS)
Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry, founded in 1875, is consistently ranked among the top five dental schools in the United States. Located in Ann Arbor, the school benefits from the full research and clinical infrastructure of the University of Michigan — a major AAU research university. Michigan Dentistry is renowned for its patient-centered care model, its strong residency placement record, and its comprehensive clinical training volume.
NYU College of Dentistry (DDS)
New York, NY
NYU College of Dentistry (NYUCD), founded in 1865, is the largest dental school in the United States by enrollment. Located in Manhattan, NYUCD operates one of the highest-volume dental clinics in the country, giving students extraordinary clinical exposure to diverse patient populations from across New York City. The school is known for its comprehensive specialties training, large research enterprise, and extensive continuing education programs.
Columbia College of Dental Medicine (DDS)
New York, NY
Columbia College of Dental Medicine (CDM), located at Columbia University's Washington Heights Medical Campus in New York City, is one of the most research-intensive dental schools in the United States. Founded in 1852, CDM trains dentists with a strong emphasis on the biological basis of oral health, research integration, and medical-dental collaboration through close ties with Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
UCSF School of Dentistry (DDS)
San Francisco, CA
The UCSF School of Dentistry, founded in 1881, is consistently ranked among the top dental schools in the United States and is the leading public dental school in California. Located on the UCSF Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, the school is deeply integrated with UCSF's world-class medical and health sciences research enterprise. UCSF Dentistry produces academic dental leaders and innovative clinician-scientists.
UCLA School of Dentistry (DDS)
Los Angeles, CA
UCLA School of Dentistry, founded in 1964, is one of the top-ranked dental schools in the United States and part of UCLA Health — a major academic medical center in Los Angeles. Located on the UCLA main campus in Westwood, the school is renowned for its research programs in craniofacial biology, dental public health, and digital dentistry. The school serves one of the most diverse patient populations in the country through its main clinic and affiliated community health sites across Los Angeles.
UNC Adams School of Dentistry (DDS)
Chapel Hill, NC
The UNC Adams School of Dentistry (formerly the UNC School of Dentistry), founded in 1950, is the dental school of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — a flagship public research university. UNC Dentistry is consistently ranked among the top dental schools in the United States and is the only dental school in North Carolina. It has a strong public health mission, serving rural and underserved communities across the state through its community dental programs.
BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Boston, MA
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), founded in 1963, is one of the leading dental schools in the United States and a major international dental training center. Located in Boston's South End, GSDM is part of Boston University's academic health campus. The school has the largest full-time dental faculty of any US dental school and is known for its breadth of specialty programs, large clinical volume, and strong international student population.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Boston, MA
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM), founded in 1868, is one of the oldest and most respected dental schools in the United States. Located in downtown Boston, TUSDM is part of Tufts' health sciences campus alongside medicine, veterinary medicine, and public health. The school operates one of the highest-volume dental clinics in New England and has a strong international student and post-graduate specialty training program.
University of Maryland School of Dentistry (DDS)
Baltimore, MD
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), founded in 1840, is the oldest dental school in the world and the birthplace of professional dental education. Located at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) health sciences campus, UMSOD is part of the University of Maryland Medical System — one of the most comprehensive academic health systems on the US East Coast. The school has a long tradition of innovation in dental education and a strong public health and community dentistry mission.
Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Cleveland, OH
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine (CWRU SDM), founded in 1892, is a top-ranked private dental school at one of the leading research universities in the Midwest. Located in Cleveland's University Circle — adjacent to Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals — CWRU SDM benefits from extraordinary clinical partnerships and research integration with world-class medical institutions. The school has a strong emphasis on scientific rigor, biomedical research, and interprofessional education.
University of Iowa College of Dentistry (DDS)
Iowa City, IA
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, founded in 1882, is the dental school of the University of Iowa — a major public AAU research university. Consistently ranked among the top dental schools in the United States, Iowa Dentistry is known for its outstanding clinical training volume, strong research program, and deep commitment to serving Iowa and the rural Midwest. The school operates the largest university dental clinic in the United States by patient volume.
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (DDS)
Minneapolis, MN
The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, founded in 1888, is consistently ranked among the top dental schools in the United States and is the leading dental school in the Upper Midwest. Located at the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis Academic Health Center, the school is part of a major public research university with deep ties to Minnesota's diverse healthcare ecosystem. Minnesota Dentistry is known for its comprehensive clinical training, strong community partnerships, and innovative curricula.
UIC College of Dentistry (DMD)
Chicago, IL
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry (UIC COD), founded in 1913, is the dental school of the University of Illinois Chicago — a major public research university with a large health sciences campus in Chicago. UIC COD is one of the most applied-to dental schools in the Midwest and serves one of the most diverse urban patient populations of any US dental school. The school has a deep community health mission, serving Chicago's underserved neighborhoods through its large dental clinic and community outreach programs.
University of Alabama School of Dentistry (DMD)
Birmingham, AL
The University of Alabama School of Dentistry (UASD), founded in 1948, is the only dental school in the state of Alabama and is located on the UAB Health Sciences campus in Birmingham. As a public institution, UASD has a strong mission to serve Alabama communities, particularly in underserved rural areas. The school offers a four-year DMD program with comprehensive clinical training at its on-campus dental clinic and affiliated community health sites.
Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD)
Mesa, AZ
The Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH), founded in 2003 as part of A.T. Still University, is a private dental school in Mesa, Arizona, known for its innovative community-based dental education model. ASDOH was founded with a mission to train dentists to serve underserved populations and operate in community health settings. Students complete significant portions of their clinical training at federally qualified health centers and community dental clinics, distinguishing ASDOH from traditional dental schools.
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Arizona (DMD)
Glendale, AZ
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Arizona (MWU-CDM-AZ), established in 2006, is a private dental school located on the Midwestern University Glendale campus in the Phoenix metropolitan area. MWU operates one of the larger DMD programs in the region and benefits from co-location with Midwestern's osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, pharmacy, and other health professions programs, enabling genuine interprofessional education experiences. The school trains graduates primarily for general dentistry and specialty pathways across the western United States.
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Little Rock, AR
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, which received accreditation and welcomed its inaugural class in 2025, is the newest dental school in the United States and is located in Little Rock, Arkansas (Lyon College's main campus is in Batesville, but the dental school is in Little Rock's Riverdale neighborhood). The school was established to address the acute dental workforce shortage in rural Arkansas, one of the most dental-underserved states in the country. As a pioneer program, Lyon Dental offers an intimate learning environment with small cohort sizes and a strong focus on rural and community dental practice.
California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Elk Grove, CA
California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine (CNU CDM), which admitted its charter DMD class in 2022, is a private for-profit dental school located in Elk Grove in the Sacramento Valley, California. CNU CDM was established with a mission to train dentists to serve the diverse communities of Northern California, particularly underserved areas of the Sacramento region and Central Valley. The school benefits from co-location with CNU's College of Medicine, pharmacy, and health sciences programs, enabling interprofessional education experiences.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC (DDS)
Los Angeles, CA
The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, founded in 1897, is one of the oldest and largest dental schools in the western United States, located on the USC Health Sciences campus in Los Angeles. USC Ostrow is a private dental school known for its state-of-the-art simulation facilities, strong specialty residency placements, large clinical volume, and active research enterprise. The school benefits from its position within USC's major research university ecosystem and its Los Angeles location, which provides access to one of the most diverse patient populations in the country.
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Loma Linda, CA
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, founded in 1953, is a private Seventh-day Adventist dental school located in Loma Linda, California. Known for its whole-person health philosophy, global health mission, and strong specialty programs, Loma Linda Dentistry trains dentists with a dual emphasis on clinical excellence and humanitarian service. The school has one of the most active international dental mission programs of any US dental school, sending student teams to underserved communities globally. Loma Linda's Inland Empire location provides access to a large, diverse patient population.
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (DDS)
San Francisco, CA
The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, founded in 1896, is one of the most respected private dental schools in the United States, located in San Francisco, California. Dugoni is particularly known for its accelerated 3-year DDS program — one of the few three-year dental programs in the US — which allows students to complete their degree in three calendar years rather than four. The school has a strong culture of humanism in dental education, emphasizing the student experience, faculty mentorship, and a collaborative rather than competitive environment.
Western University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Pomona, CA
Western University College of Dental Medicine (WesternU CDM), founded in 2009, is a private dental school located at the Western University of Health Sciences Pomona campus in the Inland Empire, California. WesternU CDM is designed as an interprofessional health sciences dental program — dental students learn alongside osteopathic medical students, pharmacy students, nurses, and other health professionals from the first year. The school emphasizes whole-person health care and prepares graduates for collaborative, team-based practice environments.
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (DDS)
Aurora, CO
The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (UCSDM), founded in 1973, is the only dental school in Colorado, located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. As a public institution with a state workforce mission, UCSDM trains dentists primarily for Colorado and the Mountain West, with a strong emphasis on rural and underserved community dentistry. The school benefits from co-location with CU's medical, pharmacy, nursing, and public health schools, enabling genuine interprofessional education. UCSDM is particularly known for its community-oriented curriculum and rural rotation programs across Colorado.
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Farmington, CT
The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (UConn SDM), founded in 1968, is the only public dental school in Connecticut, located on the UConn Health campus in Farmington. UConn SDM benefits from its position within a full academic health center — the medical school and John Dempsey Hospital are on the same campus, providing dental students with outstanding access to medical specialists and interprofessional care experiences. The school trains dentists primarily for Connecticut and the Northeast, with strong community oral health and research programs.
Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)
Washington, DC
Howard University College of Dentistry, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and is the most prominent HBCU dental school in the country. Located on Howard University's Washington, DC campus, the college has trained more Black dentists than any other institution in US history. Howard Dental has a deep historical and ongoing mission to train dentists who will serve Black and underserved communities, address oral health disparities, and promote dental health equity across the United States. The school benefits from Howard's position as a major research university in the nation's capital.
LECOM School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Bradenton, FL
LECOM School of Dental Medicine, located in Bradenton on Florida's Gulf Coast, is part of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine health sciences system. The DMD program offers an interprofessional campus experience alongside LECOM medical and pharmacy students. Florida's large and diverse patient population provides broad clinical exposure, and the school emphasizes community-based oral health service throughout the four-year curriculum.
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, established in 1997 and located in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the largest private dental schools in the United States. NSU Dental trains students to serve South Florida's diverse population with a strong emphasis on community oral health and cultural competence. The school offers a contemporary DMD curriculum with integrated basic and clinical sciences, early patient contact, and extensive community rotation sites across Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University (DMD)
Augusta, GA
The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, the only dental school in the state of Georgia, trains approximately 80–85 DMD students per year with a strong mission to address Georgia's oral health workforce needs. Established in 1965 within the Medical College of Georgia, DCG admitted its first dental students in 1969 and awarded its first DMD degrees in 1973. Co-location with Augusta University Health provides interprofessional clinical education, and the school's research enterprise spans oral biology, craniofacial genetics, and community dentistry.
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD)
Downers Grove, IL
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois, located in Downers Grove in the Chicago suburbs, offers a DMD program within MWU's multidisciplinary health sciences campus. Founded in 2009, the program benefits from co-location with MWU's osteopathic medical school, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, and other health programs, providing integrated interprofessional dental education. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and the oral-systemic health connection.
Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Alton, IL
The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, located in Alton on the Mississippi River near St. Louis, is a public dental school with an explicit mission to serve the oral health needs of Southern Illinois — one of the most economically disadvantaged regions of the state. Founded in 1972, SIU Dental trains approximately 50 DMD students per year with strong emphasis on community-based care, rural dentistry, and access to underserved populations.
Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Indianapolis, IN
Indiana University School of Dentistry, located on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis, is the only dental school in Indiana and one of the largest dental schools in the United States. Founded in 1879, IUSD trains approximately 104–106 DDS students per year with strong emphasis on clinical competence, community oral health, and postgraduate specialty training. The school's high patient volume — over 200,000 visits annually — provides broad clinical exposure, and co-location with IU School of Medicine creates interprofessional health education opportunities.
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD)
Lexington, KY
The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, located in Lexington, trains approximately 55–65 DMD students per year with a strong emphasis on Appalachian and rural Kentucky oral health. UK Dental co-locates with UK's Academic Medical Center, providing interprofessional training alongside UK medical and pharmacy students. The school has an active research enterprise in oral biology, dental materials, and community oral health, and its graduates are disproportionately likely to remain in Kentucky to practice.
University of Louisville School of Dentistry (DMD)
Louisville, KY
The University of Louisville School of Dentistry, founded in 1887 and located on UofL's Health Sciences Campus, is Kentucky's flagship dental school. Training approximately 120 DMD students per year, UofL Dental combines urban clinical training at its Louisville facilities with community outreach and rural rotation opportunities. The school co-locates with UofL Health, providing interprofessional education alongside medical, nursing, and pharmacy students, and has strong specialty training programs.
University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Pikeville, KY
The University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine, which received CODA initial accreditation in September 2025 and welcomed its inaugural class of 54 students in June 2026, is a private dental school in the heart of Appalachian Eastern Kentucky. The school trains DMD students with an explicit mission to address the catastrophic oral health disparities of the Appalachian region — among the worst in the United States. Co-located with UPIKE's College of Osteopathic Medicine, the school offers an interprofessional health education environment in a community that desperately needs more healthcare providers. UPIKE Tanner delivers its DMD on an accelerated three-year (three calendar years) schedule, a model used by only a few US dental schools.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS)
New Orleans, LA
LSU Health School of Dentistry in New Orleans, founded in 1968, is Louisiana's only dental school and trains approximately 65–75 DDS students per year. Co-located with LSU Health New Orleans Medical School and University Medical Center New Orleans, the school offers interprofessional training in one of the country's most culturally rich and clinically complex healthcare environments. LSU Dental serves a diverse patient population including uninsured and Medicaid patients across New Orleans and beyond, with community outreach programs across Louisiana.
University of New England College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Portland, ME
The University of New England College of Dental Medicine, established in 2013 and located in Portland, Maine, is the only dental school in the state. As part of UNE's health sciences campus, DMD students train alongside medical, osteopathic, pharmacy, nursing, and social work students in an interprofessional environment. UNE Dental emphasizes community-centered care and oral-systemic health integration, with clinical training at its Portland dental clinic and community rotation sites across Maine.
UMMC School of Dentistry (DMD)
Jackson, MS
The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry in Jackson is the only dental school in Mississippi. Part of UMMC's health sciences campus, the school trains approximately 35–45 DMD students per year with an explicit mission to address Mississippi's severe oral health disparities — the state ranks among the worst in the US for dental health outcomes. Co-location with UMMC's academic medical center provides interprofessional training alongside medical, nursing, and pharmacy students, and the school operates community dental outreach programs across the state.
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)
Kansas City, MO
The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry is one of the oldest dental schools in the Midwest, founded in 1881. It is Missouri's public dental school, training dentists who serve Kansas City and the broader region. UMKC is well known for its 6-year direct-entry BA/MD (in the School of Medicine); the School of Dentistry itself offers a standard 4-year DDS — one of the very few such programs in the US.
Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Joplin, MO
Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine, located in Joplin, Missouri, is one of the newest dental schools in the United States, opening its inaugural class in 2023. KCU is part of a larger health sciences university that includes osteopathic medicine, enabling interprofessional education. The school's location in the Missouri Ozarks — a region with significant dental access gaps — reflects its explicit mission to train dentists for underserved communities.
Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Omaha, NE
Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska is one of the longest-standing dental schools in the Midwest, founded in 1905. As a Jesuit institution, Creighton embeds values of social justice, cura personalis, and service to others throughout its dental curriculum. The school is known for its strong community service programs, including free and reduced-cost dental care for Omaha's underserved communities, and its emphasis on ethical practice grounded in Jesuit educational traditions.
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (DDS)
Lincoln, NE
The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln is Nebraska's public dental school, founded in 1899. As UNMC's dental program, it sits within one of the Midwest's major health sciences universities alongside medicine, pharmacy, and nursing. The school trains the majority of Nebraska's dental workforce and has a strong community dental health mission, operating clinics that serve patients across the socioeconomic spectrum in Lincoln and the surrounding region.
University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Las Vegas, NV
The University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, founded in 2002, is Nevada's only public dental school. Located in Las Vegas, the school trains dentists for a state with historically low dentist-to-population ratios and significant dental access disparities. UNLV SDM operates a large patient-care clinic and community outreach programs serving Las Vegas's diverse working-class and underserved communities. The school benefits from UNLV's growing health sciences enterprise and Las Vegas's large, ethnically diverse patient population.
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Newark, NJ
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, located on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences campus in Newark, New Jersey, is the state's public dental school. Founded as New Jersey Dental School in 1956, it operates within one of the largest health sciences campuses in the northeastern United States. The school's Newark setting — a diverse, historically underserved urban community adjacent to New York City — provides students with exceptional clinical exposure to complex dental disease and underserved populations.
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine (DDS)
Stony Brook, NY
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, located on Long Island's North Shore, is part of Stony Brook University — a major SUNY (State University of New York) research institution. Founded in 1973, it is the only dental school on Long Island and the primary dental training institution for the region's large suburban and underserved populations, with a deliberately small DDS class of approximately 46 students per year. The school benefits from integration with Stony Brook University Hospital, providing access to hospital-based dental and oral medicine training. A commitment to research is embedded alongside clinical training.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC (DDS)
Hawthorne, NY
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College (TCDM), located in Hawthorne, Westchester County, is a private dental school affiliated with Touro University — a Jewish heritage institution committed to intellectual inquiry and public service. Founded in 2016 as part of NYMC, TCDM benefits from co-location with a medical school, enabling interprofessional education. The Westchester County campus is approximately 30 miles north of New York City, providing a suburban training environment with access to the broader New York metropolitan area patient population.
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (DDS)
Buffalo, NY
The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, founded in 1892, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and a flagship SUNY public institution in Western New York. The school trains dentists for Buffalo's diverse, working-class, and historically underserved population, as well as for the broader New York State and national dental workforce. Strong research infrastructure, a large community dental clinic, and co-location with UB's medical school and biomedical research enterprise distinguish UB Dental as a comprehensive public dental training institution.
Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine (DDS)
New York, NY
Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine is one of the newest dental schools in the United States, noted as opening in 2026. Located in New York City, it is a college of Yeshiva University — a prominent Jewish heritage research university. The standalone dental school occupies a 10-story building at Herald Square in Midtown Manhattan and houses its own 130-chair clinical training facility; it is not co-located with Albert Einstein College of Medicine or Montefiore Medical Center. Given its very recent founding, program details, curriculum, and admissions data are limited; prospective applicants should consult current admissions information directly.
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Greenville, NC
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, located in Greenville, North Carolina, was founded in 2011 to address the severe dental access crisis in Eastern North Carolina — one of the most underserved dental health regions in the United States. The school uses an MMI interview process and has a community-based clinical training model that places students in rural and underserved health centers across Eastern NC. ECU SDM is one of the few US dental schools that uses MMI, and its explicit public health and access-to-care mission distinguishes it from most regional public dental programs.
ATSU Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD)
Kirksville & St. Louis, MO
The Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH) at A.T. Still University in Kirksville is a competency-based DMD program with a strong emphasis on serving rural and underserved communities across Missouri. Established in 2013, MOSDOH embeds students in community dental clinics throughout the state from the early years of training. The whole-person, oral-systemic curriculum reflects the broader A.T. Still University health sciences mission.
Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University (DMD)
High Point, NC
The Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University is a private dental school located in High Point, North Carolina, part of High Point University's expanding health sciences enterprise. The school is designed with a patient-centered, whole-person care philosophy and emphasizes community outreach, interprofessional education, and early clinical exposure. It aims to address the dental workforce needs of the Triad and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, areas with documented shortages of dental providers.
Northeast Ohio Medical University Bitonte College of Dentistry (DDS)
Rootstown, OH
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Bitonte College of Dentistry is a public dental school located in Rootstown, Ohio, integrated within NEOMED's health sciences university alongside its medical and pharmacy programs. It is one of only two public colleges of dentistry in Ohio. The college received initial CODA accreditation in August 2024 and matriculated its inaugural class of 52 dental students (32 from Ohio) in August 2025. NEOMED Dental is designed to produce dentists for Northeast Ohio and Ohio's underserved communities through an interprofessional curriculum, early patient contact, and strong community engagement, drawing on NEOMED's existing clinical and research infrastructure.
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (DDS)
Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, founded in 1890, is one of the oldest and most respected public dental schools in the United States. Located on OSU's Columbus campus, the school operates a large on-campus dental clinic serving a diverse urban patient population and conducts significant research across oral biology, biomaterials, and dental public health. OSU Dentistry graduates are highly regarded nationally and the school places well into advanced specialty programs.
University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (DDS)
Oklahoma City, OK
The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, established in 1971 (its first dental class graduated in 1976), is the only dental school in Oklahoma and the state's primary dental workforce training institution. Located at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, the College of Dentistry trains general and specialty dentists for Oklahoma and surrounding region with a strong public mission to address dental access disparities across the state's urban, rural, and tribal communities.
Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry (DMD)
Portland, OR
Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, founded in 1898 (joining the state university system in 1945 as the University of Oregon Dental School), is the only dental school in Oregon and a top-ranked public dental school in the Pacific Northwest. Part of OHSU's academic health sciences campus in Portland, the school operates a high-volume dental clinic serving a diverse urban and rural patient population and conducts research across oral biology, dental public health, and biomaterials. OHSU Dentistry is known for its strong specialty programs and commitment to training dentists for underserved communities across Oregon.
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Pittsburgh, PA
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, founded in 1896, is a top-20 US dental school and one of the most research-intensive dental programs in the country. Located in Pittsburgh on Pitt's health sciences campus, the school conducts leading research in oral biology, biomaterials, and craniofacial development through affiliation with the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and other University of Pittsburgh research centers. Pitt Dental produces graduates who are competitive for both clinical practice and academic careers.
Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (DMD)
Philadelphia, PA
Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and among the largest by clinical volume in the country. Located in North Philadelphia, Kornberg operates a high-volume dental clinic serving a predominantly low-income and underserved urban patient population, giving students extraordinary clinical breadth across a diverse caseload. The school is known for its strong clinical training, community health mission, and competitive specialty placement record.
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
San Juan, PR
The University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine, founded in 1957, is the primary dental school in Puerto Rico and the training institution for the island's dental workforce. Located at UPR's Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, the school trains dentists for Puerto Rico's diverse communities across the island through a comprehensive 4-year DMD curriculum. UPR Dental is a public institution with a core mission to address Puerto Rico's dental access disparities, particularly in rural municipalities and underserved communities.
Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Gurabo, PR
Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Dental Medicine is a private dental school on the UAGM Gurabo Campus in Puerto Rico, part of the UAGM university system. It received CODA initial accreditation in 2024 and enrolled its inaugural DMD class in August 2024. The school trains dentists for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean with a focus on community-based dental care, underserved populations, and bilingual clinical practice. As a private institution, it has somewhat less restrictive residency requirements than UPR Dental but still strongly favors Puerto Rico and US-territory applicants with Spanish proficiency.
Ponce Health Sciences University School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Ponce, PR
Ponce Health Sciences University School of Dental Medicine is a new private dental school located in Ponce, Puerto Rico, part of Ponce HSU's growing health sciences university alongside its medical school and doctoral programs. The school received CODA initial accreditation and enrolled its inaugural DMD class of about 50 students in August 2024. The school trains dentists for Puerto Rico — particularly the south and interior regions of the island, which have significant dental access gaps — through an interprofessional curriculum, early patient contact, and community-oriented training. Ponce HSU's medical school affiliation provides dental students with distinctive interprofessional education opportunities.
Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Charleston, SC
Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine, founded in 1967, is South Carolina's only dental school and the state's sole dental workforce training institution. Located at the MUSC campus in Charleston, the College of Dental Medicine benefits from integration with MUSC's full academic health system — including medical, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health programs — providing distinctive interprofessional education. MUSC Dental has a strong mission to train dentists for South Carolina, including its rural and underserved communities.
Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Knoxville, TN
Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine is a private dental school located in Knoxville, Tennessee, part of Lincoln Memorial University's expanding health sciences enterprise. LMU Dental was established with a founding mission to address the severe dental workforce shortage in Appalachian Tennessee and the surrounding region, where oral health disparities are among the worst in the United States. The school trains community-oriented dentists through early patient contact, rural clinical rotations, and an emphasis on primary dental care for underserved populations.
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (DDS)
Nashville, TN
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, founded in 1886, is one of the nation's oldest dental schools and the only historically Black dental school still operating independently. Located in Nashville, Meharry has trained a disproportionately large share of Black dentists in the United States. The school is deeply committed to serving underserved and minority communities, and its graduates are concentrated in safety-net dental practices, community health centers, and public health dentistry across the South and beyond.
UTHSC College of Dentistry (DDS)
Memphis, TN
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, founded in 1878, is Tennessee's only public dental school. Located in Memphis, the college trains dentists for practice across Tennessee — particularly in rural and underserved communities — and operates one of the largest dental clinics in the Mid-South. The college emphasizes comprehensive clinical training with high patient volume and a strong public health focus.
Texas A&M College of Dentistry (DDS)
Dallas, TX
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (formerly Baylor College of Dentistry), located in Dallas, is one of the largest dental schools in the United States and is Texas's most established public dental school. Founded in 1905, the college is part of the Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and applies via TMDSAS. It trains dentists for practice across Texas, with strong clinical training volume at its large Dallas dental clinics.
TTUHSC El Paso Hunt School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
El Paso, TX
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Hunt School of Dental Medicine is a newer public dental school, the first dental school in El Paso and the US-Mexico border region. The school has a distinctive mission to train dentists for the medically underserved border communities of West Texas and New Mexico, where oral health needs are substantial and access to dental care is severely limited. The DMD program emphasizes bilingual (English-Spanish) clinical practice and border health.
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (DDS)
Houston, TX
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry (UTHealth Houston), part of the Texas Medical Center — the world's largest medical complex — is one of the premier public dental schools in the South. Founded in 1905, UTHealth Houston trains dentists for Texas and the nation, with access to extraordinary clinical volume and research resources through its Texas Medical Center location. The school is known for comprehensive clinical training and research in oral health.
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (DDS)
San Antonio, TX
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry (UT Health San Antonio), founded in 1969, is one of Texas's two major public dental schools and trains dentists primarily for San Antonio, South Texas, and the US-Mexico border region. Located within the UT Health San Antonio academic health science center, the school benefits from close ties with the Long School of Medicine. San Antonio's large Hispanic and military population provides diverse and rich clinical training opportunities.
Roseman University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
South Jordan, UT
Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, located in South Jordan, Utah (greater Salt Lake City area), is a private dental school using Roseman's distinctive competency-based, block-schedule curriculum model. The school trains dentists for the Mountain West region, where dental workforce shortages are significant. Roseman's mastery learning model — students must demonstrate competency before progressing — produces graduates known for strong clinical readiness.
University of Utah School of Dentistry (DMD)
Salt Lake City, UT
The University of Utah School of Dentistry, established in 2012–2013 within the University of Utah Health system, was created to address Utah's significant dental workforce shortage — particularly in rural communities. It welcomed its inaugural DDS class of 20 students in August 2013 and graduated its first class in 2017; the cohort has since grown to roughly 50 students per year. The school benefits from the University of Utah's strong health sciences infrastructure and research capabilities.
VCU School of Dentistry (DDS)
Richmond, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry (VCU Dental), located in Richmond, is Virginia's only dental school and one of the largest dental programs on the US East Coast. Founded in 1893, VCU Dental is known for its high clinical volume — the school operates one of the busiest dental clinics in the region — and its strong research enterprise. As Virginia's sole public dental school, VCU carries a significant mission to train dentists for communities across the Commonwealth.
PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Yakima, WA
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine (PNWU), located in Yakima, Washington, is a new private dental school that received CODA initial accreditation in August 2024 and enrolled its inaugural class of 36 DMD students in fall 2025. It has a distinctive mission to train dentists for rural and underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest. Yakima is a predominantly Latino agricultural community with significant oral health disparities. PNWU emphasizes cultural competence, rural health, and commitment to serving the underserved.
University of Washington School of Dentistry (DDS)
Seattle, WA
The University of Washington School of Dentistry, founded in 1945, is consistently ranked among the top ten dental schools in the United States. Located on the UW Health Sciences campus in Seattle, UW Dental trains dentists predominantly for Washington (about 84% of each class are Washington residents) and the rural Pacific Northwest via its RIDE (Regional Initiatives in Dental Education) track. The school is renowned for its research enterprise — ranked among the top dental schools for NIH funding — and its strong specialty programs and residency placement record.
West Virginia University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Morgantown, WV
West Virginia University School of Dentistry, founded in 1957, is West Virginia's only dental school and trains dentists primarily for the state — which has among the worst oral health statistics in the United States. WVU Dental is embedded in WVU's Health Sciences Center alongside the School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy, enabling interprofessional training. The school has a deep commitment to rural oral health, Appalachian community dental care, and addressing the profound dental workforce shortages across West Virginia.
Marquette University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Milwaukee, WI
Marquette University School of Dentistry, which traces its origins to 1894 (founded as the Dental Department of the Milwaukee Medical College and affiliated with Marquette University in 1907), is a private Jesuit dental school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of the premier dental schools in the Midwest. Marquette Dental is known for its comprehensive clinical training with high patient volume, strong emphasis on ethics and professionalism rooted in Jesuit values, and a large and loyal alumni network across the Upper Midwest. The school's urban Milwaukee location provides training with a diverse urban patient population.
University of Florida College of Dentistry (DMD)
Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida College of Dentistry, founded in 1972, is the only public dental school in Florida and one of the leading dental schools in the southeastern United States. Located in Gainesville on the UF Health Science Center campus, the College of Dentistry offers the DMD degree and operates one of the largest dental clinics in the Southeast, providing care to a diverse patient population across North Central Florida. The school is a major component of UF Health and benefits from integration with UF's nationally ranked academic medical center. As Florida's only public dental school, UFCD has a strong public mission to address the state's significant dental workforce and access-to-care challenges.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (DDS)
Detroit, MI
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, founded in 1932, is one of the oldest private dental schools in Michigan and a significant dental workforce training institution in the Great Lakes region. Located in Detroit, Michigan, and rooted in the Jesuit-Mercy tradition of service and social justice, the school operates a large on-campus dental clinic serving a diverse urban patient population, including many patients with limited access to dental care. UDM Dentistry is known for its comprehensive clinical training, strong community health mission, and a location in one of the United States' most historically significant but healthcare-challenged cities.
Campus photo credits
Campus photographs are used under free Creative Commons or public-domain licences and have been resized and cropped for display.
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by ajay_suresh — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Penn Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Bestbudbrian — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by AndrewHorne — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- NYU College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Tdorante10 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Columbia College of Dental Medicine (DDS): photograph by Beyond My Ken — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UCSF School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Hourann Bosci from Perth, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UCLA School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Beyond My Ken — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UNC Adams School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by William Yeung — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Cmcnicoll (English Wikipedia) — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by ajay_suresh — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Acroterion — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Rdikeman at English Wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Iowa College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Tony Webster — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by A Gude — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UIC College of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Teresa Grau Ros from Barcelona — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Alabama School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Mx. Granger — CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD): photograph by Johndheathcote — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Arizona (DMD): photograph by Mbatmwu — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Lyoncollege — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC (DDS): photograph by EEJCC — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Pobonana — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Daderot — CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Western University College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Ryan Hoff — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (DDS): photograph by ProudGamecock — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Ragesoss — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by ajay_suresh — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- LECOM School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Oceanside810 — CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Dgreco — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University (DMD): photograph by Georgia Regents University — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD): photograph by Mbatmwu — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Clarinetguy097 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by IndyTaylor — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by w_lemay — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Louisville School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Fredlyfish4 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Nyttend — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Spatms — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of New England College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by University of New England — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UMMC School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Mississippi Department of Archives and History — No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Nightryder84 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by EJParnell — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Bluejayscholar — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Bkell (English Wikipedia) — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Stan Shebs — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Hudconja — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine (DDS): photograph by Kenneth C. Zirkel — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC (DDS): photograph by Johnathanly — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (DDS): photograph by Y. G. Lulat — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine (DDS): photograph by Beyond My Ken — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Wikiuser2787 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- ATSU Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DMD): photograph by Johndheathcote — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University (DMD): photograph by Unknown (Wikimedia Commons, public domain) — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Northeast Ohio Medical University Bitonte College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by JonRidinger — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Nheyob — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Nightryder84 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by M.O. Stevens — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Kevin Albright — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Jim.henderson — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Moebiusuibeom-en — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Tito Caraballo — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ponce Health Sciences University School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Roca Ruiz — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by w_lemay — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by Dwight Burdette — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Andrew Jameson — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UTHSC College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Dclemens1971 — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Texas A&M College of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Kailynn.Nelson — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- TTUHSC El Paso Hunt School of Dental Medicine (DMD): photograph by CDonn3, Dicklyon — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by WhisperToMe — CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Floresr19 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Utah School of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by MrSchmidt — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- VCU School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Morgan Riley — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Washington School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Iamnoone069 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- West Virginia University School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Stryker33 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Marquette University School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Docbrown30 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Florida College of Dentistry (DMD): photograph by Ebyabe — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (DDS): photograph by Mike Russell — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about applying to US dental schools.