New York University College of Dentistry is in New York, New York and offers a DDS (4 years). It is the largest dental school in the United States, enrolling about 380 new students a year[3]. This page lists what NYU 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
| NYU | |
|---|---|
| Degree and length | DDS, 4 years |
| School type | Private nonprofit |
| Application deadline | January 15[4] |
| Minimum GPA | None published. The strongest candidates have GPAs between 3.29 and 3.79.[4] |
| Minimum DAT | None published[4] |
| Canadian DAT | Yes |
| Shadowing | A minimum of 100 hours is recommended. |
| Letters | One committee letter, or 3 individual letters with two from science faculty. |
| Offers per 100 applications | 31.6[2] |
How it ranks among US dental schools
| Measure, 2025-26 | NYU | Rank | Average of all schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 3,371 | 5th of 76 1st = most applications | 1,835 |
| Offers per 100 applications | 31.6 | 74th of 76 1st = most selective | 12.3 |
| Average GPA of the entering class | 3.64 | 52nd of 76 1st = highest | 3.68 |
| Average DAT Academic Average | 460 | 9th of 70 1st = highest | 437 |
| First-year class size | 403 | 1st of 76 1st = largest | 96 |
| First-year tuition, non-residents | $106,962 | 5th of 76 1st = most expensive | $80,372 |
| Canadian citizens in the first-year class | 31 | 1st of 76 1st = most Canadians | 2 |
| Share of the class from the home state | 39% | 56th 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 US or Canadian college or university. Applicants without a degree may be considered with a 3.5 GPA and 90 or more credits from a four-year institution.[4]
| Course | Amount required |
|---|---|
| Biology, with lab | 2 semesters or 3 quarters |
| Inorganic or general chemistry, with lab | 2 semesters or 3 quarters |
| Organic chemistry, with lab | 2 semesters or 3 quarters |
| Physics, with lab | 2 semesters or 3 quarters |
| English or writing-intensive courses | 2 semesters or 3 quarters |
Each needs a minimum grade of C, must be within the past ten years, and must be finished before you start. They must be taken at an accredited US or Canadian institution. ESL courses do not count toward English.[4]
GPA and DAT
Minimum GPA: None published. The strongest candidates have GPAs between 3.29 and 3.79.
Minimum DAT: None published[4]
What the school reports: Admitted students: mean total GPA 3.61, mean science GPA 3.51, mean DAT Academic Average 21 and Total Science 21 on the old scale. NYU receives nearly 5,000 applications a year.[3]
What the national survey reports for 2025-26: the entering class had an average GPA of 3.64 and a science GPA of 3.55, with an average DAT Academic Average of 460, Total Science of 450 and Perceptual Ability of 450 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: Within three years of the year you would start. For Fall 2027 entry, the test must be dated 2024 or later. Scores are due January 15.[4]
Averages by year
The charts below show every entering class from 2015 to 2025. The average overall GPA went from 3.39 to 3.64 over that time[1].
NYU: 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 | 3.39 | 3.36 | |
| 2016 | 3.51 | 3.40 | |
| 2017 | 3.50 | 3.40 | |
| 2018 | 3.44 | 3.34 | |
| 2019 | 3.29 | 3.40 | |
| 2020 | 3.45 | 3.33 | |
| 2021 | 3.48 | 3.37 | |
| 2022 | 3.41 | 3.29 | |
| 2023 | 3.56 | 3.45 | |
| 2024 | 3.61 | 3.51 | |
| 2025 | 3.64 | 3.55 | [1] |
Source: American Dental Association, Survey of Dental Education, 2015-16 to 2025-26 editions.
NYU: 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 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 20.0 | |
| 2016 | 21.2 | 21.3 | 20.5 | |
| 2017 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 20.0 | |
| 2018 | 21.2 | 21.3 | 20.2 | |
| 2019 | 21.0 | 20.8 | 20.1 | |
| 2020 | 21.0 | 20.7 | 20.1 | |
| 2021 | 20.8 | 20.6 | 20.2 | |
| 2022 | 21.0 | 20.7 | 20.2 | |
| 2023 | 21.1 | 20.8 | 20.0 | |
| 2024 | 21.1 | 20.8 | 20.0 | [1] |
The 2025-26 class is not on this chart because the DAT moved to a 200 to 600 scale. Its averages were 460 Academic Average, 450 Total Science and 450 Perceptual Ability.
Canadian applicants
Is the Canadian DAT accepted? Yes. NYU’s FAQ says it accepts retakes of the DAT or the Canadian DAT (CDAT) until the January 15 deadline.[4]
NYU treats Canadian degrees the same as US degrees: a bachelor’s degree and prerequisites from a Canadian college or university are accepted, with no credential evaluation or TOEFL. Those are only required if your degree is from outside the US and Canada (an ECE evaluation and a TOEFL iBT of at least 100).[4][3]
How many Canadians are in the class?
In 2025-26, 31 of the 403 first-year students at NYU were Canadian citizens (8% of the class)[2]. That is the 1st highest number of Canadians among US dental schools. Another 39 were citizens of other countries.
NYU: 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 | 29 | |
| 2020 | 19 | |
| 2021 | 34 | |
| 2022 | 46 | |
| 2023 | 25 | |
| 2024 | 28 | |
| 2025 | 31 | [1] |
212 Canadian citizens started at NYU 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: January 15[4]
- School fee and extra forms: Application fee paid to NYU after you apply.
- Letters: One committee letter, or 3 individual letters with two from science faculty.
- Shadowing: A minimum of 100 hours is recommended.
- Interview: Two stages: an asynchronous video interview on Kira Talent, then an invitation to an in-person DDS Candidate Day for final candidates. Interviews run from August through March, and decisions start December 15.
Who is in the class
39% of the 2025-26 first-year class (158 of 403 students) were residents of New York[2]. That leaves 245 seats that went to people from elsewhere. 17 students were not US residents.
NYU: 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 363 with a bachelor’s degree, 19 with a master’s degree, 20 after three years of college[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 277 women and 126 men (69% women)[2]. Women sent 2,143 applications and men sent 1,228.
Students in each year of the program:
| 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | All years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 403 | 392 | 410 | 392 | 1,597 |
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 NYU answered for 2025-26[2].
DAT sections
| Rating | DAT sections |
|---|---|
| Very important | Academic Average, Total Science, Reading Comprehension, Biology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry |
| Somewhat important | Perceptual Ability, Quantitative Reasoning |
Grades and other factors
| Rating | Factors |
|---|---|
| Very important | Science GPA, Non-science GPA, Overall GPA, Interview, Letters of recommendation, Manual dexterity, Community service, Professional experience, Overcoming personal or financial challenges |
NYU rated 15 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, NYU received 3,371 applications, made 1,066 offers and enrolled 403 first-year students[2]. That is 31.6 offers for every 100 applications. Offers are higher than seats because many accepted applicants choose another school.
NYU: offers per 100 applications, by year
Applicants offered a place, divided by applications received.
| Year | Offers per 100 applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 20.0 | |
| 2016 | 17.4 | |
| 2017 | 16.8 | |
| 2018 | 18.6 | |
| 2019 | 20.3 | |
| 2020 | 21.5 | |
| 2021 | 21.1 | |
| 2022 | 25.5 | |
| 2023 | 26.4 | |
| 2024 | 32.6 | |
| 2025 | 31.6 | [1] |
NYU: applications received
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | Applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5,256 | |
| 2016 | 5,662 | |
| 2017 | 4,204 | |
| 2018 | 3,411 | |
| 2019 | 3,267 | |
| 2020 | 3,092 | |
| 2021 | 3,161 | |
| 2022 | 3,048 | |
| 2023 | 3,074 | |
| 2024 | 3,185 | |
| 2025 | 3,371 | [2] |
NYU: first-year enrolment
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | First-year students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 387 | |
| 2016 | 382 | |
| 2017 | 379 | |
| 2018 | 380 | |
| 2019 | 383 | |
| 2020 | 366 | |
| 2021 | 378 | |
| 2022 | 378 | |
| 2023 | 372 | |
| 2024 | 405 | |
| 2025 | 403 | [2] |
The program in numbers
| NYU | |
|---|---|
| Degree | D.D.S. |
| Calendar | Semester system |
| Program type | Four academic years over 48 months |
| Total length | 179 weeks of instruction |
| Total dental students | 1,597 |
| Graduates in 2025 | 397 |
| Patient visits handled by students in a year | 213,321 (17,555 at sites outside the school) |
| New patients screened in a year | 18,740 |
| Combined degree programs | Master of Public Health, other degrees, a combined pre-dental and dental track |
| Dentists trained abroad | Admitted with advanced standing (20 in 2025-26, into 2nd year standing) |
| Transfer students | Accepted in principle; none in 2025-26 |
Figures are what the school reported for 2025-26[2].
NYU: total students and graduates
All dental students enrolled, and graduates each year.
| Year | Total dental students | Graduates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,479 | 354 | |
| 2016 | 1,509 | 352 | |
| 2017 | 1,515 | 362 | |
| 2018 | 1,535 | 358 | |
| 2019 | 1,520 | 392 | |
| 2020 | 1,522 | 374 | |
| 2021 | 1,525 | 391 | |
| 2022 | 1,516 | 383 | |
| 2023 | 1,510 | 390 | |
| 2024 | 1,559 | 376 | |
| 2025 | 1,597 | 397 | [2] |
Tuition and cost
NYU: 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.
NYU: first-year tuition and fees by year
US dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
| Year | First-year tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 74,460 | |
| 2016 | 77,720 | |
| 2017 | 79,004 | |
| 2018 | 85,533 | |
| 2019 | 85,356 | |
| 2020 | 90,198 | |
| 2021 | 91,821 | |
| 2022 | 95,427 | |
| 2023 | 99,229 | |
| 2024 | 103,185 | |
| 2025 | 107,299 | [2] |
Non-resident first-year tuition and fees went from $74,460 in 2015 to $107,299 in 2025, a change of +44%.
Tuition for each year of the program
| Year of the program | Tuition |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $106,962 |
| 2nd year | $106,962 |
| 3rd year | $106,962 |
| 4th year | $106,962 |
| All years | $427,848 |
Fees and other required costs over the whole program
| Cost | Total for all years |
|---|---|
| Mandatory general fees | $943 |
| Instruments | $27,840 |
| Health services | $21,045 |
| All fees and required costs | $49,828 |
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 NYU accept the Canadian DAT?
Yes. NYU’s FAQ says it accepts retakes of the DAT or the Canadian DAT (CDAT) until the January 15 deadline.[4]
What GPA do you need for NYU dental school?
What DAT score do you need for NYU?
How many shadowing hours does NYU require?
A minimum of 100 hours is recommended.[4]
When is the NYU dental school application deadline?
January 15. Applying earlier helps because interviews are offered on a rolling basis.[4]
How hard is it to get into NYU dental school?
In 2025-26 it received 3,371 applications, made 1,066 offers and enrolled 403 students, about 31.6 offers per 100 applications.[2]
How many Canadians go to NYU dental school?
In 2025-26, 31 of the 403 first-year students were Canadian citizens. From 2019 to 2025, 212 Canadians started there.[2]
What share of NYU dental students are from out of state?
In 2025-26, 39% of the first-year class (158 of 403) were residents of New York, so 61% came from elsewhere.[2]
How important is the DAT Perceptual Ability section at NYU?
NYU told the American Dental Association that the Perceptual Ability score is somewhat important in its admissions decisions for 2025-26.[2]
Does NYU have a program for dentists trained outside the US?
Yes. In 2025-26 NYU admitted 20 internationally trained dentists with advanced standing. That is a separate application from the regular program described on this page.[2]
How much does NYU dental school cost for the whole program?
Tuition for all years totals $427,848 for non-residents in 2025-26 dollars, plus about $49,828 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
- NYU College of Dentistry: DDS frequently asked questions
- NYU College of Dentistry: DDS admission requirements
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.
Hi are Canadian students considered out of state or international?