Dental Schools in Illinois
3 DDS/DMD dental programs in our catalogue for Illinois. Compare DAT score requirements, GPA profiles, in-state preference and AADSAS application strategy.
About Illinois: Pop. ~12.5M; Chicago metro (~9.5M) dominates, with world-class academic medical centres including Northwestern and University of Chicago. UIC College of Medicine is one of the largest MD programs in the US.
In-state context: Private schools (Northwestern Feinberg, UChicago Pritzker) admit nationally. UIC College of Medicine and Loyola Stritch have strong preference for Illinois residents. Chicago COM (DO) also prioritises Illinois-region applicants.
Major health systems: Northwestern Medicine · University of Chicago Medicine · Rush University Medical Center · Advocate Aurora Health · NorthShore University HealthSystem · Cook County Health
DDS vs DMD — what is the difference?
Both DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry / Doctor of Dental Medicine) are equivalent degrees. The title used depends solely on the university, not on any difference in training, scope of practice, or licensure. All CODA-accredited programs lead to the same dental licence. Applications go through AADSAS (ADEA) for most schools. The DAT (Dental Admission Test) is required by virtually all programs.
3 Dental Programs in Illinois
- 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 neighbourhoods through its large dental clinic and community outreach programmes.
DMD6.5% acceptanceStrong in-state pref. - 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 programme within MWU's multidisciplinary health sciences campus. Founded in 2009, the programme benefits from co-location with MWU's osteopathic medical school, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, and other health programmes, providing integrated interprofessional dental education. The curriculum emphasises evidence-based practice, patient-centred care, and the oral-systemic health connection.
DMD6.5% acceptance - 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.
DMD5.5% acceptanceStrong in-state pref.
Applying to dental school in Illinois?
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