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US Dentistry · 2027 Entry

Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) Dental School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Omaha, NE, United StatesEstablished 1905Interviews September–FebruaryDecisions Rolling admissions

Photo: Bluejayscholar · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Overview

About Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS)

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.

What makes it different

Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Creighton University School of Dentistry is a Jesuit Catholic institution with a strong ethos of service, ethics, and community engagement. The school has a distinctive emphasis on community outreach, including free dental clinics serving Omaha's underserved populations. Creighton's Omaha location offers clinical training in a mid-size Midwestern city with a diverse patient base.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DDS curriculum. Creighton integrates bioethics, social justice, and community service into the dental curriculum, reflecting Jesuit educational principles. Clinical training at the Creighton Dental Clinic in Omaha includes a community outreach program providing care for uninsured and underinsured patients. Service-learning experiences are embedded throughout all four years.

Research strengths

Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) has notable research strength in Community oral health, Dental public health, Oral-systemic health, Bioethics, Restorative dentistry.

Interview

Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews via Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. Invited applicants attend an interview day at Creighton University in Omaha. The day includes a faculty one-on-one interview (typically 30–45 minutes), a tour of the dental school's clinic and simulation facilities, and informal interactions with current students. Jesuit values — cura personalis (care for the whole person), service to others, and social justice — are embedded in Creighton's institutional culture and frequently surface in interview questions. Applicants are expected to articulate how their professional goals align with service-oriented practice.

Intake

Approximately 115–120 students per year.

At a glance

Founded in 1905, based in Omaha, NE. Programmes offered: Community Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Restorative Dentistry.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Community service, ethical grounding, and alignment with Jesuit values are strongly valued alongside academic achievement. Catholic identity is not required; students of all backgrounds are welcomed.
GPA median
3.72 overall / 3.64 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
10.0%
Class size
117
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Community service, Jesuit mission alignment, ethical values, DAT, GPA, dental experience.
Notes
GPA medians hedged. DAT Academic Average median approximately 20–22 (hedged). Private Jesuit institution — no in-state preference. Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Community Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Restorative Dentistry
Interview

How Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
Interview window
September–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 30–45% post-interview (estimated).
Tutor insight
Creighton is a faith-based institution — applicants who resonate with Jesuit values of service, reflection, and social justice will be stronger candidates. You do not need to be Catholic, but you should understand what cura personalis means and be able to articulate how those values show up in your dental aspirations. Community service and ethics preparation are more important here than at secular schools.
Practice

Practise for your Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

EasyPanelQ1

Community Service: Organizing a Dental Outreach Day

As the student body president of your dental school class, you have been asked to organize an annual Give Kids a Smile day — a national ADA-sponsored program in which dental students and faculty provide free dental care to children who lack access. Describe how you would organize this event from logistics to community partnerships, and what you want participating students to take away from the experience beyond the technical skills practiced.

Likely follow-up · Your planning reveals that the neighborhood you intended to serve is predominantly Spanish-speaking, but none of the student volunteers speak Spanish fluently. How do you address this?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumMMI · PanelQ2

The Science-and-Art Pull: Why Restorative and Esthetic Work Motivates You

Dentistry is sometimes described as the meeting point of health science, surgery, and visual art, restoring not only function but appearance and a patient's confidence. If part of your motivation is this fusion of the clinical and the esthetic, explain it honestly, and address how you keep that motivation patient-centered rather than purely cosmetic.

Likely follow-up · Where, in your view, is the ethical line between restoring or enhancing a smile and overtreating a healthy mouth for purely cosmetic reasons?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
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FAQ

Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) — frequently asked questions

Apply to Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) with confidence

We've helped students turn their DAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Creighton University School of Dentistry (DDS) and other US dentistry schools.