Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is in Boston, Massachusetts and offers a DMD (4 years). It accepts Canadian DAT scores up to four years old, the longest window of the ten schools in this series[3]. This page lists what BU asks for on its own admissions pages, with the latest numbers from the American Dental Association and a section for Canadian applicants.
At a glance
| BU | |
|---|---|
| Degree and length | DMD, 4 years |
| School type | Private nonprofit |
| Application deadline | December 15[4] |
| Minimum GPA | None published[4] |
| Minimum DAT | None published[4] |
| Canadian DAT | Yes |
| Shadowing | No set number of hours, but competitive applicants have experience with a general dentist. Paid or volunteer work in a dental setting counts; online or virtual experience does not. |
| Letters | 3 letters of evaluation (two from faculty, one more academic or personal reference), or a pre-health committee evaluation. |
| Offers per 100 applications | 6.3[2] |
How it ranks among US dental schools
| Measure, 2025-26 | BU | Rank | Average of all schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 3,796 | 3rd of 76 1st = most applications | 1,835 |
| Offers per 100 applications | 6.3 | 9th of 76 1st = most selective | 12.3 |
| Average GPA of the entering class | 3.61 | 54th of 76 1st = highest | 3.68 |
| Average DAT Academic Average | 431 | 42nd of 70 1st = highest | 437 |
| First-year class size | 117 | 19th of 76 1st = largest | 96 |
| First-year tuition, non-residents | $99,680 | 13th of 76 1st = most expensive | $80,372 |
| Canadian citizens in the first-year class | 3 | 12th of 76 1st = most Canadians | 2 |
| Share of the class from the home state | 35% | 58th of 76 1st = most in-state | 58% |
Ranks compare the US dental schools that reported each figure to the American Dental Association for 2025-26[2].
Prerequisite courses
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year US or Canadian college or university before you start.[4]
| Course | Amount required |
|---|---|
| Biology, with lab | 3 courses (12 to 13 credit hours) |
| General chemistry, with lab | 2 courses (8 to 10 credit hours) |
| Organic chemistry, with lab | 2 courses (8 to 10 credit hours) |
| Physics, with lab | 2 courses (8 to 10 credit hours) |
| Biochemistry | 1 course (3 to 4 credit hours) |
| Upper-level biology, biochemistry, chemistry or physics | 2 more courses (at least 6 credit hours) |
Prerequisites must total at least 45 semester credit hours at an accredited US or Canadian college or university, with at least 30 from a four-year institution. AP, IB and test-exemption credits are not accepted. One course cannot fill two requirements.[4]
GPA and DAT
Minimum GPA: None published
Minimum DAT: None published[4]
What the school reports: Successful applicants typically have a science GPA above 3.4 and a DAT Academic Average of 420 or higher (20 on the old scale). The entering class has 117 seats.[5]
What the national survey reports for 2025-26: the entering class had an average GPA of 3.61 and a science GPA of 3.52, with an average DAT Academic Average of 431, Total Science of 434 and Perceptual Ability of 426 on the new 200 to 600 scale[2]. The DAT moved from a 1 to 30 scale to a 200 to 600 scale in 2025, so some school pages still quote old-scale scores; a 20 on the old scale is roughly 420 on the new one.
How long DAT scores last: DAT or Canadian DAT taken within four years of applying.[4]
Averages by year
The charts below show every entering class from 2015 to 2025. The average overall GPA went from 3.46 to 3.61 over that time[1].
BU: average GPA of the entering class, by year
Overall GPA and science GPA of first-year students (the year shown is when the academic year started).
| Year | Overall GPA | Science GPA | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3.46 | 3.40 | |
| 2016 | 3.43 | 3.34 | |
| 2017 | 3.40 | 3.29 | |
| 2018 | 3.49 | 3.40 | |
| 2019 | 3.44 | 3.34 | |
| 2020 | 3.44 | 3.33 | |
| 2021 | 3.51 | 3.40 | |
| 2022 | 3.53 | 3.43 | |
| 2023 | 3.48 | 3.41 | |
| 2024 | 3.51 | 3.51 | |
| 2025 | 3.61 | 3.52 | [1] |
Source: American Dental Association, Survey of Dental Education, 2015-16 to 2025-26 editions.
BU: average DAT scores of the entering class, by year
Old 1 to 30 scale: Academic Average, Total Science and Perceptual Ability.
| Year | Academic Average | Total Science | Perceptual Ability | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | |
| 2016 | 19.9 | 19.6 | 20.0 | |
| 2017 | 20.4 | 19.9 | 20.0 | |
| 2018 | 20.4 | 20.0 | 19.9 | |
| 2019 | 20.5 | 20.0 | 20.4 | |
| 2020 | 20.2 | 19.8 | 20.2 | |
| 2021 | 20.9 | 20.3 | 20.7 | |
| 2022 | 21.1 | 21.5 | 21.7 | |
| 2023 | 20.1 | 19.8 | 20.0 | |
| 2024 | 19.8 | 19.5 | 19.6 | [1] |
The 2025-26 class is not on this chart because the DAT moved to a 200 to 600 scale. Its averages were 431 Academic Average, 434 Total Science and 426 Perceptual Ability.
Canadian applicants
Is the Canadian DAT accepted? Yes. BU accepts the Canadian DAT. CDAT scores are issued directly to the school.[4]
BU’s FAQ says all students who earned a bachelor’s degree at an accredited US or Canadian college or university are eligible. Prerequisites from a Canadian university count, and the Canadian DAT is accepted for four years.[4][3]
How many Canadians are in the class?
In 2025-26, 3 of the 117 first-year students at BU were Canadian citizens (3% of the class)[2]. That is the 12th highest number of Canadians among US dental schools. Another 6 were citizens of other countries.
BU: Canadian citizens in the first-year class
Number of first-year students who were Canadian citizens (the year shown is when the academic year started).
| Year | Canadian first-year students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | |
| 2020 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 6 | |
| 2025 | 3 | [1] |
23 Canadian citizens started at BU over these 7 years.
Comparing schools? Our table of all 76 US dental schools lets you sort by applications, GPA, DAT and tuition, and our Canadian dental school requirements cover the ten schools at home.
How to apply
- Application: through ADEA AADSAS, the shared application for US dental schools.
- Deadline: December 15[4]
- School fee and extra forms: $80.
- Letters: 3 letters of evaluation (two from faculty, one more academic or personal reference), or a pre-health committee evaluation.
- Shadowing: No set number of hours, but competitive applicants have experience with a general dentist. Paid or volunteer work in a dental setting counts; online or virtual experience does not.
- Interview: Remote: a Zoom interview with a member of the admissions committee, plus Zoom sessions with students and staff. Interviews run from September through March, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who is in the class
35% of the 2025-26 first-year class (41 of 117 students) were residents of Massachusetts[2]. That leaves 76 seats that went to people from elsewhere. 6 students were not US residents.
BU: where first-year students live
Home state and the five most common other states or provinces, 2025-26.
Education before dental school: first-year students entered 68 with a bachelor’s degree, 49 with a master’s degree[2]. Almost everyone had finished a degree, so plan to complete yours even where the school does not strictly require it.
Women and men: the first-year class had 85 women and 30 men (74% women)[2]. Women sent 2,452 applications and men sent 1,338.
Students in each year of the program:
| 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | All years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | 112 | 216 | 205 | 653 |
What the school says it weighs
Each year the American Dental Association asks every dental school how important each part of an application is. This is how BU answered for 2025-26[2].
DAT sections
| Rating | DAT sections |
|---|---|
| Very important | Academic Average |
| Somewhat important | Perceptual Ability, Total Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Biology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry |
Grades and other factors
| Rating | Factors |
|---|---|
| Very important | Science GPA, Overall GPA, Interview, Letters of recommendation, Manual dexterity, Professional experience |
| Somewhat important | Non-science GPA, Community service, Overcoming personal or financial challenges |
BU rated 7 of the 17 items as very important. It did not rate any item as unimportant, so a weak area is unlikely to be overlooked.
Applications and class size over time
In 2025-26, BU received 3,796 applications, made 238 offers and enrolled 117 first-year students[2]. That is 6.3 offers for every 100 applications. Offers are higher than seats because many accepted applicants choose another school.
BU: offers per 100 applications, by year
Applicants offered a place, divided by applications received.
| Year | Offers per 100 applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 7.5 | |
| 2016 | 7.0 | |
| 2017 | 8.4 | |
| 2018 | 9.1 | |
| 2019 | 13.3 | |
| 2020 | 13.3 | |
| 2021 | 8.8 | |
| 2022 | 11.9 | |
| 2023 | 11.1 | |
| 2024 | 8.4 | |
| 2025 | 6.3 | [1] |
BU: applications received
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | Applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4,020 | |
| 2016 | 3,970 | |
| 2017 | 3,556 | |
| 2018 | 2,626 | |
| 2019 | 2,515 | |
| 2020 | 2,312 | |
| 2021 | 2,853 | |
| 2022 | 2,440 | |
| 2023 | 2,585 | |
| 2024 | 3,269 | |
| 2025 | 3,796 | [2] |
BU: first-year enrolment
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | First-year students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 115 | |
| 2016 | 116 | |
| 2017 | 117 | |
| 2018 | 117 | |
| 2019 | 117 | |
| 2020 | 117 | |
| 2021 | 115 | |
| 2022 | 117 | |
| 2023 | 117 | |
| 2024 | 117 | |
| 2025 | 117 | [2] |
The program in numbers
| BU | |
|---|---|
| Degree | D.M.D. |
| Calendar | Semester system |
| Program type | Four academic years over 48 months |
| Total length | 185 weeks of instruction |
| Total dental students | 653 |
| Graduates in 2025 | 209 |
| Patient visits handled by students in a year | 62,036 (16,341 at sites outside the school) |
| New patients screened in a year | 4,483 |
| Combined degree programs | None reported |
| Dentists trained abroad | Admitted with advanced standing (101 in 2025-26, into 3rd year standing) |
| Transfer students | Not accepted |
Figures are what the school reported for 2025-26[2].
BU: total students and graduates
All dental students enrolled, and graduates each year.
| Year | Total dental students | Graduates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 599 | 190 | |
| 2016 | 609 | 187 | |
| 2017 | 626 | 184 | |
| 2018 | 627 | 193 | |
| 2019 | 628 | 200 | |
| 2020 | 630 | 198 | |
| 2021 | 634 | 197 | |
| 2022 | 652 | 192 | |
| 2023 | 650 | 212 | |
| 2024 | 651 | 212 | |
| 2025 | 653 | 209 | [2] |
Tuition and cost
BU: cost in US dollars, 2025-26
Private school: the same tuition for everyone.
Figures are in US dollars and do not include living costs. Program totals are the school's estimate for a student starting in 2025-26.
BU: first-year tuition and fees by year
US dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
| Year | First-year tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 70,700 | |
| 2016 | 73,200 | |
| 2017 | 75,700 | |
| 2018 | 78,450 | |
| 2019 | 81,482 | |
| 2020 | 84,937 | |
| 2021 | 87,440 | |
| 2022 | 90,690 | |
| 2023 | 93,947 | |
| 2024 | 98,326 | |
| 2025 | 104,887 | [2] |
Non-resident first-year tuition and fees went from $70,700 in 2015 to $104,887 in 2025, a change of +48%.
Tuition for each year of the program
| Year of the program | Tuition |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $99,680 |
| 2nd year | $99,680 |
| 3rd year | $99,680 |
| 4th year | $99,680 |
| All years | $398,720 |
Fees and other required costs over the whole program
| Cost | Total for all years |
|---|---|
| Mandatory general fees | $16,828 |
| Instruments | $18,174 |
| Instructional materials | $6,560 |
| Health services | $2,256 |
| All fees and required costs | $43,818 |
These are on top of tuition and do not include rent, food or travel[2]. Canadians pay in US dollars, so the exchange rate adds to the cost.
See how this compares in our guide to dental school costs in the USA.
Frequently asked questions
Does BU accept the Canadian DAT?
Yes. BU accepts the Canadian DAT. CDAT scores are issued directly to the school.[4]
What GPA do you need for BU dental school?
What DAT score do you need for BU?
How many shadowing hours does BU require?
No set number of hours, but competitive applicants have experience with a general dentist. Paid or volunteer work in a dental setting counts; online or virtual experience does not.[4]
When is the BU dental school application deadline?
December 15. Applying earlier helps because interviews are offered on a rolling basis.[4]
How hard is it to get into BU dental school?
In 2025-26 it received 3,796 applications, made 238 offers and enrolled 117 students, about 6.3 offers per 100 applications.[2]
How many Canadians go to BU dental school?
In 2025-26, 3 of the 117 first-year students were Canadian citizens. From 2019 to 2025, 23 Canadians started there.[2]
What share of BU dental students are from out of state?
In 2025-26, 35% of the first-year class (41 of 117) were residents of Massachusetts, so 65% came from elsewhere.[2]
How important is the DAT Perceptual Ability section at BU?
BU told the American Dental Association that the Perceptual Ability score is somewhat important in its admissions decisions for 2025-26.[2]
Does BU have a program for dentists trained outside the US?
Yes. In 2025-26 BU admitted 101 internationally trained dentists with advanced standing. That is a separate application from the regular program described on this page.[2]
How much does BU dental school cost for the whole program?
Tuition for all years totals $398,720 for non-residents in 2025-26 dollars, plus about $43,818 in fees, instruments and other required costs. Living costs are extra.[2]
Sources
- American Dental Association: Survey of Dental Education, Report 2, editions 2015-16 to 2025-26
- American Dental Association: Survey of Dental Education 2025-26, Reports 1 and 2
- Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine: DMD application process
- Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine: DMD requirements
- Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine: admissions FAQ
Figures were checked against these sources on November 11, 2026. Schools change their numbers every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
Are Canadian students considered out of state or international?