All applicants should consider the requirements of each dental school as well as their acceptance rate before applying.
The average acceptance rate for all dental schools in America in 2020 was 7.3%. If you would like to see the acceptance rates of Canadian Dental School click here. The total number of applicants, interview spots, and accepted students each year has been provided by the individual dental schools below.
Another important aspect to consider is the dental school’s policies for out-of-state applicants: Some schools have no preference, some schools a small preference and some strong preference for in-state applicants (see below for more information).
Acceptance Rates for Each Dental School in America:
| University | State | Number of Applicants in 2020 | Entering Class Size | Acceptance Rate (Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | Arizona | 2424 | 77 | 3.2% |
| Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health | Missouri | 1363 | 61 | 4.5% |
| Boston University | Massachusetts | 2293 | 115 | 5.0% |
| Case Western Reserve University | Ohio | 2315 | 75 | 3.2% |
| Columbia University | New York | 1501 | 88 | 5.9% |
| Creighton University | Nebraska | 1989 | 115 | 5.8% |
| Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University | Georgia | 852 | 95 | 11.2% |
| East Carolina University | North Carolina | 381 | 52 | 13.6% |
| Harvard School | Massachusetts | 920 | 35 | 3.8% |
| Herman Ostrow School | California | 2346 | 144 | 6.1% |
| Howard University | District of Columbia | 961 | 65 | 6.8% |
| Indiana University | Indiana | 943 | 101 | 10.7% |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Florida | 3330 | 105 | 3.2% |
| Loma Linda University | California | 1200 | 100 | 8.3% |
| Louisiana State University | Louisiana | 508 | 75 | 14.8% |
| Marquette University | Wisconsin | 2437 | 107 | 4.4% |
| Medical University of South Carolina | South Carolina | 1212 | 78 | 6.4% |
| Meharry Medical College | Tennessee | 2137 | 62 | 2.9% |
| Midwestern University | Arizona | 2246 | 142 | 6.3% |
| Midwestern University | Illinois | 2346 | 140 | 6.0% |
| New York University | New York | 3035 | 367 | 12.1% |
| Nova Southeastern University | Florida | 2280 | 122 | 5.4% |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Oregon | 938 | 74 | 7.9% |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences | Utah | 1719 | 102 | 5.9% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | New Jersey | 1995 | 95 | 4.8% |
| Southern Illinois University | Illinois | 632 | 50 | 7.9% |
| Stony Brook University | New York | 946 | 46 | 4.9% |
| Texas A&M | Texas | 1426 | 103 | 7.2% |
| Temple University | Pennsylvania | 2755 | 141 | 5.1% |
| The Ohio State University | Ohio | 812 | 120 | 14.8% |
| The University of Iowa | Iowa | 865 | 82 | 9.5% |
| New York Medical College | New York | 2539 | 114 | 4.5% |
| Tufts University | Massachusetts | 3946 | 209 | 5.3% |
| University at Buffalo | New York | 1800 | 95 | 5.3% |
| University of Alabama | Alabama | 961 | 61 | 6.3% |
| University of California | California | 1384 | 88 | 6.4% |
| University of California | California | 1357 | 90 | 6.6% |
| University of Colorado | Colorado | 2114 | 80 | 3.8% |
| University of Connecticut | Connecticut | 1229 | 50 | 4.1% |
| University of Detroit | Michigan | 1517 | 143 | 9.4% |
| University of Florida | Florida | 1464 | 93 | 6.4% |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 1300 | 66 | 5.1% |
| University of Kentucky | Kentucky | 938 | 65 | 6.9% |
| University of Louisville | Kentucky | 2045 | 116 | 5.7% |
| University of Maryland | Maryland | 1801 | 133 | 7.4% |
| University of Michigan | Michigan | 1604 | 108 | 6.7% |
| University of Minnesota | Minnesota | 659 | 105 | 15.9% |
| University of Mississippi | Mississippi | 193 | 39 | 20.2% |
| University of Missouri | Missouri | 719 | 108 | 15.0% |
| University of Nebraska | Nebraska | 511 | 52 | 10.2% |
| University of Nevada | Nevada | 1603 | 84 | 5.2% |
| University of New England | Maine | 822 | 61 | 7.4% |
| University of North Carolina | North Carolina | 1211 | 82 | 6.8% |
| University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 746 | 52 | 7.0% |
| University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 1981 | 136 | 6.9% |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 1521 | 80 | 5.3% |
| University of Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | 321 | 40 | 12.5% |
| University of Tennessee | Tennessee | 1201 | 98 | 8.2% |
| UT Health San Antonio | Texas | 1436 | 100 | 7.0% |
| University of Texas | Texas | 1438 | 104 | 7.2% |
| University of the Pacific | California | 2076 | 146 | 7.0% |
| University of Utah | Utah | 467 | 50 | 10.7% |
| University of Washington | Washington | 484 | 63 | 13.0% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Virginia | 2156 | 94 | 4.4% |
| Western University of Health Sciences College | California | 2855 | 70 | 2.5% |
| West Virginia University | West Virginia | 962 | 48 | 5.0% |
Dental School Admission Statistics in America: In-State vs. Out-of-State Applicants
Many dental schools in America explicitly skew their admission process in favour of applicants who reside within the state in which the dental school is located.
Some of the American dental schools that favour in-state applicants explicitly state the maximum number, out-of-province applicants, that they will accept and the maximum number of international students that they will accept. Take a look at the acceptance rates comparing in-state vs out-of-state to see what universities might be the most appropriate to apply to.
| University | State | In-State Acceptance Rate | Out-of-State Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | Arizona | 12.50% | 2.73% |
| Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health | Missouri | 13.33% | 4.01% |
| Boston University | Massachusetts | 26.62% | 3.59% |
| Case Western Reserve University | Ohio | 10.84% | 2.69% |
| Columbia University | New York | 11.97% | 4.93% |
| Creighton University | Nebraska | 19.15% | 5.55% |
| Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University | Georgia | 28.48% | 1.68% |
| East Carolina University | North Carolina | 15.81% | 0.00% |
| Harvard School | Massachusetts | 4.55% | 3.73% |
| Herman Ostrow School | California | 9.69% | 3.55% |
| Howard University | District of Columbia | 0.00% | 6.86% |
| Indiana University | Indiana | 38.82% | 5.35% |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Florida | 5.71% | 2.60% |
| Loma Linda University | California | 11.64% | 5.17% |
| Louisiana State University | Louisiana | 45.31% | 4.52% |
| Marquette University | Wisconsin | 31.45% | 2.57% |
| Medical University of South Carolina | South Carolina | 43.31% | 2.16% |
| Meharry Medical College | Tennessee | 8.18% | 2.72% |
| Midwestern University | Arizona | 20.93% | 5.35% |
| Midwestern University | Illinois | 13.09% | 4.92% |
| New York University | New York | 32.65% | 7.88% |
| Nova Southeastern University | Florida | 14.75% | 1.52% |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Oregon | 41.76% | 4.32% |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences | Utah | 18.02% | 5.31% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | New Jersey | 20.86% | 1.97% |
| Southern Illinois University | Illinois | 12.46% | 2.86% |
| Stony Brook University | New York | 9.76% | 1.78% |
| Texas A&M | Texas | 11.19% | 1.46% |
| Temple University | Pennsylvania | 25.00% | 3.10% |
| The Ohio State University | Ohio | 41.39% | 3.15% |
| The University of Iowa | Iowa | 55.67% | 3.78% |
| New York Medical College | New York | 8.56% | 3.48% |
| Tufts University | Massachusetts | 16.76% | 4.96% |
| University at Buffalo | New York | 14.74% | 2.59% |
| University of Alabama | Alabama | 32.26% | 2.56% |
| University of California | California | 11.84% | 0.81% |
| University of California | California | 8.24% | 3.98% |
| University of Colorado | Colorado | 38.94% | 1.69% |
| University of Connecticut | Connecticut | 33.33% | 1.95% |
| University of Detroit | Michigan | 18.65% | 5.51% |
| University of Florida | Florida | 12.58% | 1.36% |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 14.86% | 0.36% |
| University of Kentucky | Kentucky | 31.19% | 3.70% |
| University of Louisville | Kentucky | 28.70% | 4.39% |
| University of Maryland | Maryland | 38.79% | 4.16% |
| University of Michigan | Michigan | 20.00% | 2.81% |
| University of Minnesota | Minnesota | 41.07% | 6.41% |
| University of Mississippi | Mississippi | 31.20% | 0.00% |
| University of Missouri | Missouri | 48.76% | 7.82% |
| University of Nebraska | Nebraska | 52.46% | 4.59% |
| University of Nevada | Nevada | 54.02% | 2.35% |
| University of New England | Maine | 14.29% | 7.26% |
| University of North Carolina | North Carolina | 21.71% | 1.83% |
| University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 36.52% | 1.63% |
| University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 13.93% | 6.50% |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 16.49% | 3.54% |
| University of Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | 45.24% | 0.87% |
| University of Tennessee | Tennessee | 37.65% | 3.59% |
| UT Health San Antonio | Texas | 11.43% | 0.54% |
| University of Texas | Texas | 11.37% | 1.41% |
| University of the Pacific | California | 11.90% | 3.18% |
| University of Utah | Utah | 17.89% | 8.21% |
| University of Washington | Washington | 37.58% | 2.17% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Virginia | 21.90% | 1.79% |
| Western University of Health Sciences College | California | 4.37% | 1.56% |
| West Virginia University | West Virginia | 64.15% | 1.63% |
Dental School Acceptance is much harder as an Out-of-State Applicant!
International Applicant Dental School Acceptance Rates
Acceptance Rates for International Applicants are also different compared to the in-state applicants. Take a look at the acceptance rates for international applicants to see what universities might be the most appropriate to apply to.
| University | Number of International Applicants | International Applicants Accepted | Acceptance Rate (Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | 64 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health | 17 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Boston University | 274 | 7 | 2.55% |
| Case Western Reserve University | 255 | 6 | 2.35% |
| Columbia University | 127 | 2 | 1.57% |
| Creighton University | 104 | 4 | 3.85% |
| Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University | 13 | 0 | 0.00% |
| East Carolina University | 3 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Harvard School | 104 | 4 | 3.85% |
| Herman Ostrow School | 223 | 11 | 4.93% |
| Howard University | 42 | 2 | 4.76% |
| Indiana University | 44 | 2 | 4.55% |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | 46 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Loma Linda University | 100 | 12 | 12.00% |
| Louisiana State University | 4 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Marquette University | 97 | 1 | 1.03% |
| Medical University of South Carolina | 22 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Meharry Medical College | 75 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Midwestern University | 134 | 9 | 6.72% |
| Midwestern University | 138 | 2 | 1.45% |
| New York University | 337 | 46 | 13.65% |
| Nova Southeastern University | 182 | 4 | 2.20% |
| Oregon Health & Science University | 36 | 1 | 2.78% |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences | 82 | 1 | 1.22% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 174 | 2 | 1.15% |
| Southern Illinois University | 15 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Stony Brook University | 56 | 4 | 7.14% |
| Texas A&M | 37 | 1 | 2.70% |
| Temple University | 250 | 10 | 4.00% |
| The Ohio State University | 28 | 2 | 7.14% |
| The University of Iowa | 27 | 0 | 0.00% |
| New York Medical College | 126 | 8 | 6.35% |
| Tufts University | 264 | 6 | 2.27% |
| University at Buffalo | 234 | 5 | 2.14% |
| University of Alabama | 18 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of California | 85 | 2 | 2.35% |
| University of California | 87 | 10 | 11.49% |
| University of Colorado | 45 | 3 | 6.67% |
| University of Connecticut | 65 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Detroit | 241 | 22 | 9.13% |
| University of Florida | 6 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Illinois | 49 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Kentucky | 19 | 1 | 5.26% |
| University of Louisville | 62 | 1 | 1.61% |
| University of Maryland | 97 | 5 | 5.15% |
| University of Michigan | 110 | 5 | 4.55% |
| University of Minnesota | 70 | 9 | 12.86% |
| University of Mississippi | 3 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Missouri | 10 | 3 | 30.00% |
| University of Nebraska | 14 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Nevada | 68 | 3 | 4.41% |
| University of New England | 30 | 2 | 6.67% |
| University of North Carolina | 35 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Oklahoma | 19 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 213 | 12 | 5.63% |
| University of Pittsburgh | 175 | 8 | 4.57% |
| University of Puerto Rico | 7 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Tennessee | 7 | 0 | 0.00% |
| UT Health San Antonio | 31 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Texas | 25 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of the Pacific | 203 | 8 | 3.94% |
| University of Utah | 3 | 0 | 0.00% |
| University of Washington | 13 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 97 | 2 | 2.06% |
| Western University of Health Sciences College | 144 | 0 | 0.00% |
| West Virginia University | 49 | 0 | 0.00% |
Understanding Dental School Requirements in America:
In addition to admission statistics, you should study in detail the dental school requirements before you apply.
If you would like an in-depth analysis of the dental school requirements for a specific dental school in America including average admitted GPA and DAT scores as well as detailed information about the interview, autobiographical sketch, and admissions weighting statistics, the link above is a great source of information.
About the Author
Hi, my name is Jack Rzepka, founder of Masterstudent.ca. I graduated from McMaster University’s Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program in 2021, and I was fortunate to be accepted to multiple Canadian dental and medical schools, including the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry and the University of Western Ontario Schulich School of Medicine.
I know firsthand how stressful applying to graduate and professional programs can be. I was juggling multiple applications, trying to figure out where to find accurate information, and worrying about how expensive DAT and MCAT prep could really be. I created Masterstudent.ca because I remember how overwhelming it felt to piece together guidance from scattered sources. My goal is to give students a clear, reliable, and student-focused resource, so you can make informed decisions without feeling lost or alone. We have practice tests, guides to applications, and articles on studying tips and the like all made free during my spare time (and it will always be free).
Navigating applications is challenging, but I don’t want you to have to do it by yourself. That’s why I’m here to share what I’ve learned and help you make the process a little less stressful.