In this article, we will look at the 20 easiest dental schools to get into, recently. 

For the forecast period 2023 to 2030, the global dental market is set to grow at a cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The industry is projected to grow from $38.21 billion in 2023 to $65.23 billion by 20230. The industry growth rate is driven by the rising prevalence of dental diseases such as malocclusion, periodontitis, and tooth decay. 

In terms of opportunities, technological advancements are making dental procedures more efficient and increasing their capabilities. Given the steady growth rate of the dental industry, a career as a dentist can be very rewarding. However, it is very difficult to get into a dental college. So, to increase your chances, you might want to look at some of the easiest dental schools to get into. 

Getting admission into a dental school is quite competitive. According to some dentists, it is one of the toughest milestones on the road to becoming a dentist. First, a pre-dental student must maintain a strong GPA, have a good co-curricular record, and get a good score on the dental admission test (DAT). Even then, the acceptance rates of dental schools are very low. In fact, data from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) shows that in 2019, only 55.9% of dental school applicants were enrolled in dental schools. In 2007, dental school acceptance rates went as low as 33.6%. In addition, the number of students applying to dental schools is increasing. In 2000, 7,700 applicants applied for admission to dental school. However, in 2019, 11,148 people applied for admission to dental school. While the number of dental schools and open seats has also increased over the years, they have not been able to catch up to the increase in applicant numbers. Data from ADEA also shows that the average DAT score and GPA of successful applicants have also increased. In 2000, the average DAT score for successful applicants was 18.3 for total science and 17.7 for perceptual ability. However, in 2019, the average DAT score of successful applicants was 20.5 for total science and 20.04 for perceptual ability. In addition, the average total GPA in 2000 for successful applicants was 3.35, and the average science GPA for successful applicants was 3,.25. However, the average total GPA in 2019 for successful applicants was 3.57, and the science GPA was 3.48. These averages are quite high but still do not show the full picture. To get into some of the best dental schools, a dental student must work harder. The average GPA and DAT for Harvard School of Dental Medicine, for example, is 3.85 and 22 respectively. The average DAT score for Harvard is more than 21, which is considered a good DAT score. With that being said, there are still very good dental schools that are less competitive. Some dental schools with high acceptance rates could be your ticket to a career as a dentist. One thing to keep in mind is that you have better chances of getting into dental school if it is from the same state as yours. Dental schools have the highest acceptance rates for applicants from their own states. Generally, acceptance rates decrease significantly for applicants belonging to a different state. In addition, dental schools have the lowest acceptance rates for international candidates. For perspective, one of the dental schools in our list admits 34% of applicants from the same state and only 4% of out-of-state applicants. 

While dental students face challenges in the form of limited acceptance rates and the difficulty of studying dentistry, some companies are working to promote sustainability in the industry. Recently Dentsply Sirona Inc (NASDAQ:XRAY) has launched a free resource kit for dental students. The kit helps dental students understand sustainability and offers specific actions that the students can implement within their practices. The company also recently participated in a virtual summit on sustainability in dentistry, hosted by the FDI. News Week’s ranking of America’s Most Responsible Companies of 2023 also recognized Dentsply Sirona Inc (NASDAQ:XRAY)’s efforts toward sustainability. Dentsply Sirona Inc (NASDAQ:XRAY) also partnered with Smile Train to help children with clefts. They helped provide high-quality cleft care through equipment donations, financial contributions, and fundraising activities. In addition, Henry Henry Schein, Inc (NASDAQ:HSIC) recently launched its practice green initiative. It is aimed at helping healthcare professionals adopt sustainable practices. The company runs this program in the United States and Canada and plans to expand to other countries in the future. Another company Peterdon Dental, has recently made efforts that helped save 40 metric tons of carbon emissions per year. It did this by implementing SAP Field Service Management, which is a cloud-based solution aimed at optimizing and reducing mileage. 

Methodology

For our list of 20 easiest dental schools to get into recently, we used four (1,2,3,4) sources. We listed all the dental schools these sources mentioned. We ranked the schools based on their acceptance rates, because the higher this rate is, the easier it is to get into these schools. With higher acceptance rates comes lower GPA and DAT requirements. However, we are aware that dental school acceptance rates are sometimes just estimates because many universities are not open about them. In addition, acceptance rates can vary significantly from year to year. So, while we used our sources to make a list of the easiest dental schools to get into, we verified acceptance rates using multiple sources across the internet. We also made sure to include the most recent acceptance rates of dental schools. 

20 – Medical University of Southern Carolina 

Acceptance Rate – 5.81%

The official name of the Medical University of Southern Carolina’s dental school is James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. While it has made it to our list of easiest dental schools to get into, it is still very competitive, with an acceptance rate of only 5.81%. However, if you are a resident of South Carolina, you have a better chance of getting into the college. The dental school typically admits 75 students every year out of which only 15 seats are reserved for students outside the state. 

19 – University of Florida

Acceptance Rate – 6.33%

The College of Dentistry of the University of Florida is one of the most respected dental schools and has been around for the last fifty years. Although it is one of the 20 easiest dental schools to get into recently, securing a seat can be tough. While the overall enrolment rate is 6.33%, the in-state enrollment rate is higher at 12.57%. So, you have a better chance of getting into college if you are a resident of Florida. 

18 – University of Alabama, Birmingham

Acceptance Rate – 6.40%

University of Alabama, Birmingham’s dental program is quite popular with more than 1000 applicants applying. If you are a resident of Alabama, you will find it easier to get into the university because the acceptance rate for in-state applicants goes as high as 46%. However, you will require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 to have a good chance of acceptance. 

17 – University of Oklahoma

Acceptance Rate – 7.04%

College of Dentistry, University of Oklahoma, is located in Tulsa, one of the most populous cities in America. The university is well-reputed, and although it has made it to our list of easiest dental schools to get into recently, competition is still tough. You would need a DAT score of 20.3 to be competitive for college admission and have a GPA of at least 3.5. 

16 – University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Acceptance Rate – 7.2%

The College of Dentistry of the University of Tennessee is one of the earliest dental colleges built in America, dating back to 1878. The dental college, however, is easier to get into, compared to other prestigious ones. 

15 – Southern Illinois University

Acceptance Rate – 7.91%

The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine has one of the lowest dental college fees in all of Illinois. However, the school still manages to provide the latest technology in oral health care and a state-of-the-art clinic. The university has an In-state enrollment rate of 12.46% and an out-of-state enrollment rate of 7.91%. 

14 – Indiana University

Acceptance Rate – 8.58%

If you are a resident of Indiana, you have a good chance of getting into the Indiana Dental School, as it admits 38.41% of in-state students. The enrollment rate of out-of-state students, however, is pretty low at 4.13%. In addition, the average DAT scores and overall GPA of admitted students are 19.9 and 3.6 respectively.  While the average DAT score of this dental score is lower than the national average, the average GPA is quite competitive. 

13 – University of Iowa

Acceptance Rate – 9.31%

University of Iowa Dental School is one of the easiest dental schools to get into if you are a resident of Iowa. It has an in-state enrollment rate of 54.74%. However, the school has a very low out-of-state enrollment rate of 3.8%, making it one of the hardest schools to get into for applicants from other states. 

12 – LSU Health Sciences Center

Acceptance Rate – 9.33%

LSU Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry is located in New Orleans. The college admits 75 new dental students every year, out of which 56 spots are reserved for students from Louisiana. The average DAT score of successful applicants is 21, which is competitive but the averages for instate students are lower. 

11 – University of Detroit Mercy

Acceptance Rate – 9.40%

The average DAT score of successful applicants at the University of Detroit Mercy is 19.6, which makes it one of the easiest schools to get into, in terms of DAT scores (which is lower than the national average). The low DAT score has led to an In-state acceptance rate of 18.7%. 

10 – University of Puerto Rico

Acceptance Rate – 10.00%

The University of Puerto Rico is one of the leading academic institutions for doctoral and post-doctoral studies in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. However, it requires the completion of an additional subject in Spanish. With an overall acceptance rate of 10%, it is the 10th easiest dental school to get into. 

9 – University of Minnesota

Acceptance Rate – 10.21%

While the University of Minnesota has an overall acceptance rate of 10.21%, it remains one of the easiest schools to get into for residents of Minnesota. It has an In-State enrollment rate of 41.57%. However, the average DAT score of successful applicants is 20.9, which is quite competitive. 

8 – New York University

Acceptance Rate – 11%

The NYU Dental School acceptance rate is 11%. In addition, the average GPA of admitted students is 3.1, making it one of the easiest dental schools to get into. For perspective, some of the schools in this list have an average GPA of 3.6.

7 – Augusta University, Georgia

Acceptance Rate – 11.30%

The Dental College of Augusta was established in 1969 and is the state’s only dental school. With an acceptance rate of 11.3%, the college admits around 60 students per year. In addition, the average DAT score and GP of admitted students is 19 and 3.6 respectively. 

6 – Ohio State University

Acceptance Rate – 12.55%

Ohio State University has an in-state acceptance rate of 39.26%, making it one of the easiest dental colleges to get into for residents of Ohio. However, the average DAT score of admitted students is 21.3, which is quite competitive. 

5 – East Carolina University

Acceptance Rate – 15.80%

The East Carolina University Dental College has an in-state enrollment rate of 16.1%, which is not considerably higher than its overall enrollment rate. The average DAT scores and GPA of admitted students are 20.5 and 3.5 respectively, which although competitive, are one of the lowest in this list. 

4 – University of Missouri – Kansas City

Acceptance Rate – 16.00%

The dental college of the University of Missouri, Kansas City is one of the easiest ones to get into for Missouri residents. It has an in-state enrollment rate of 41.9% and admits 6.59% of out-state students. The average DAT score of admitted students is 20.5. 

3 – University of Washington

Acceptance Rate – 22.54%

The University of Washington is among the top 3 easiest dental schools to get into. It is the only dental school in Washington and is highly prestigious.