Dentistry: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Dentistry is a rigorous, clinically focused discipline dedicated to the comprehensive care of oral and maxillofacial health, preparing professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, and surrounding tissues. This program integrates scientific foundations with hands-on clinical training to equip graduates for independent practice in promoting overall patient well-being through advanced dental care.
- Biochemical and Biomedical Sciences: Core principles of human anatomy, physiology, histology, and biochemistry as they relate to oral health and systemic disease.
- Occlusion: The study of tooth alignment and jaw relationships, essential for proper function, comfort, and long-term dental health.
- Dental Health and Prevention: Strategies for promoting oral hygiene, fluoride use, sealants, and community-based initiatives to reduce dental disease prevalence.
- Oral Pathology: Identification and management of diseases affecting the oral tissues, including infections, tumors, and mucosal disorders.
- Cariology: In-depth exploration of tooth decay mechanisms, risk assessment, and evidence-based approaches to caries prevention and management.
- Operative Dentistry: Clinical techniques for restoring teeth using fillings, inlays, onlays, and other restorative materials.
- Oral Radiology: Interpretation of dental imaging, including X-rays and advanced modalities, to support accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Dental Specialties: Foundational knowledge across orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry.
- Pain Management: Methods for assessing and controlling dental pain, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
- Oral Medicine: Diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical conditions affecting the oral cavity and related structures.
- Clinic and Healthcare Management: Operational aspects of running a dental practice, including scheduling, compliance, billing, and quality assurance.
- Patient Counseling: Communication strategies to educate patients, manage expectations, and support informed decision-making.
- Professional Ethics and Standards: Principles governing ethical conduct, patient confidentiality, informed consent, and legal responsibilities in dental practice.
Dentistry Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Dentistry Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Dentistry degrees, including Dentists, General and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 343,210 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General 29-1021 | $172,790 | $83,860 - $239,200 | 113,490 | $83.07 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
Dentistry Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $81,920 in Missouri to $175,660 in Arkansas—a 114% difference. The highest-paying states include Arkansas, Vermont, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 343,210 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Dentistry by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 65 institutions offering Dentistry programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Dentistry is found at New York University (NYU) (377 graduates), Tufts University (233 graduates), Boston University (BU) (214 graduates), University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (187 graduates), and University of the Pacific (UOP) (174 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,950 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York University (NYU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
377 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Tufts University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
233 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
214 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
187 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
174 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
172 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Temple University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
149 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
145 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | midwestern.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
142 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
141 | Downers Grove, Illinois | Private | midwestern.edu |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
140 | Kirksville, Missouri | Private | atsu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
130 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
130 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
130 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
129 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
128 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
126 | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
122 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
121 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
121 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
121 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
120 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
119 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Touro University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
117 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| Creighton University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
116 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
114 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
113 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
107 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
107 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
105 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
105 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
105 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | lecom.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
104 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
104 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
102 | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
99 | Henderson, Nevada | Private | roseman.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
97 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
92 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
91 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
91 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
88 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
87 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
86 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
79 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
79 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
77 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
76 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
74 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Meharry Medical College |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
73 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | mmc.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
72 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
71 | Pomona, California | Private | westernu.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
65 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of New England (UNE) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
63 | Biddeford, Maine | Private | une.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
59 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
57 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
55 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
51 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
51 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
50 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
44 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
43 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
41 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Harvard University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
33 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Dentistry programs
How much can I earn with a Dentistry degree?
Salaries for Dentistry graduates vary by role and location. Dentists, General earn a median of $172,790 annually, while Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $105,620. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Arkansas average $175,660 compared to $81,920 in Missouri. Approximately 343,210 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Dentistry programs?
Currently 65 accredited institutions offer Dentistry degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include New York University (NYU) (377 graduates), Tufts University (233 graduates), and Boston University (BU) (214 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Dentistry growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,123 in 2010 to 6,950 in 2023-24. This represents a 36% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Dentistry degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Dentists, General, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 343,210 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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