Embarking on a career in dentistry is a commendable pursuit, and selecting the right dental school is a pivotal step in this journey. For prospective students aiming to understand which institutions offer more accessible admission pathways, we’ve compiled an updated list of dental schools known for their relatively higher acceptance rates as of 2025. It’s essential to note that while these schools may have higher acceptance rates, they still maintain academic and professional standards.
We often talk a lot about medical school and the various MD programs available across the country, but today we want to chat about dental school. Are you considering becoming a dentist and are curious about what the easiest dental schools to get into are? You’re in luck because in this article we are going to chat about dental schools, dental schools with the highest acceptance rates, and more.
10. Southern Illinois University of Dental Medicine (Alton, IL)
Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine offers students significant faculty access due to its small class sizes. Graduates consistently achieve high first-time pass rates on the National Board Dental Exams. The program recommends, but does not require, a bachelor’s degree; however, applicants must complete specific prerequisite coursework. While clinical or shadowing experience isn’t mandatory, such experiences can enhance an application. The school’s location in Alton, Illinois, boasts a low cost of living, and the tuition is comparatively affordable, allowing many students to graduate with minimal debt. Training begins in a state-of-the-art simulation lab before progressing to patient care in various community service settings.
DAT Academic Average: 19.9
Acceptance Rate: 14.22%
Average GPA: 3.66
9. University of Alabama School of Dentistry (Birmingham, AL)
Established in 1948, the University of Alabama School of Dentistry remains at the forefront of dental innovation and technology. The school introduced dental hygienists into dental practice during the 1960s and continues to offer auxiliary programs covering topics like craniofacial development and oral cancer. Hosting the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network, UAB Dental provides students with opportunities to engage in practice-based dental research.
Through partnerships across Alabama, students gain experience treating diverse patient populations in various clinical settings. Applicants must complete at least three years of undergraduate study, including required prerequisite courses. Dual degree programs, such as DMD/PhD or DMD/MBA, are available for those interested in clinical research or business aspects of dentistry.
DAT Academic Average: 19
Acceptance Rate: 13.43%
Average GPA: 3.75
8. University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (Minneapolis, MN)
The University of Minnesota educates and trains nearly three-quarters of Minnesota’s practicing dental professionals. The college offers many specialty programs, such as maxillofacial surgery and periodontology, plus a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.
This university’s clinical rotations occur within community outreach programs across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Senior dental students can choose to volunteer two weeks over the summer to participate in Indian Health Service/Tribal Outreach externships.
For students who are still trying to decide if dental school is the right choice, Minnesota offers a dental school prep course where they can explore career options, attend lectures, and use dental simulation tools. Students who need further help deciding if dental school is the right path can seek professional guidance from International Medical Aid’s invaluable medical school admissions consulting service.
If you want to attend the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, you must have completed 87 undergrad semester credits (at minimum). While the admissions committee states that they value the quality of an applicant’s undergrad coursework over their course selection, the college still has a list of required prerequisites.
Acceptance Rate: 24.89%
Average GPA: 3.67/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 20.9
7. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry (New Orleans, LA)
Louisiana State University offers programs in dental lab technology and dental hygiene plus a DDS program. Students of the college are also able to pursue fellowships in specialized dental fields such as implants, special needs dentistry, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry.
LSU is located in the metropolitan area of Baton Rouge and is a large state school with a very active campus. The cost of living here is fairly low and even non-resident students pay only $63,839 per year in fees and tuition. Residents pay $35,141 per year.
LSU has a two-part application process which starts with students submitting the necessary information to the Associated American Dental School Application Service. All eligible applicants will then receive the materials needed to complete the next stage of the application process. A unique factor of this college’s applications is that all applicants must complete a chalk carving to demonstrate their manual dexterity.
Acceptance Rate: 13.56%
Average GPA: 3.64/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 21.5
6. University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (San Juan, PR)
The University of Puerto Rico offers students a comprehensive 4-year DMD degree program through their school of dentistry. Students will attain the practical skills needed to run a dental practice, specialized training in both geriatric and pediatric dentistry, and training in the diagnosing of orofacial abnormalities and diseases.
Requirements for this university include a broad coursework base in the humanities and sciences including hours in both Spanish and English. Fees and tuition for the first two years come in at around $50k per year with years 3 and 4 costing slightly less. The total cost for all four years is around $180k.
The University of Puerto Rico receives applications through the Advanced Dental Education Programs portal. The college is the only dental school in Puerto Rico and is accredited by the ADA, meaning graduates can go on to practice dentistry on the mainland if they chose to do so.
Acceptance Rate: 10.96%
Average GPA: 3.5/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 17
5. Augusta University Dental College of Georgia (Augusta, GA)
The Dental College of Georgia offers a 4-year DMD degree that is designed to prep students for licensing and practicing dentistry. Dual degrees such as a DMD/MBA and DMD/PhD in Oral Biology are also offered by the university.
This school is a public university and serves as the health sciences college in Georgia. With 150 years of healthcare education experience, the college provides hands-on training to all of its students.
The college’s campus in Augusta is about 2 hours from Atlanta, Georgia. This college utilizes the AADSAS preliminary application and interviews are by invitation only. Students who are accepted into the school’s program have a great opportunity to network as there are 15 dental student organizations on campus.
Acceptance Rate: 11.69%
Average GPA: 3.6/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 20
4. Ohio State University College of Dentistry (Columbus, OH)
The OSU College of Dentistry is the fourth largest dental school in the United States. It has a particular commitment to supporting first-generation students from the Appalachia region and emphasizes providing dental care to underserved regional populations.
Students can pursue a DDS degree that can be combined with a PhD or a Master of Public Health, ideal for those interested in research or public health. Applicants must use the AADSAS application service and fulfill a set of specified prerequisites.
The program requires at least 40 hours of dental experience, although successful candidates typically have around 120 hours. OSU also offers a unique one-year DentPath entry program aimed at students from underserved backgrounds, guaranteeing successful participants admission into the DDS program.
Acceptance Rate: 12.55%
Average GPA: 3.65/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 21
3. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (Kansas City, MO)
This college offers an extensive school experience in the metro area of Kansas City. The University of Missouri-Kansas City is located within the major healthcare system known as Hospital Hill.
UMKC students begin clinical work during the first year of the program because the college values hands-on experience as a crucial training component. The college also includes team assignments and collaborative problem-solving as part of the curriculum.
Qualified eligible applicants will have completed at least 90 hours of undergraduate coursework, including the prerequisites required by UMKC.
The university strongly recommends that students have a minimum of 100 hours of clinical experience across 5 settings as well as 100 hours of community service across 5 settings. Those who are residents of Missouri and Kansas are eligible for the college’s Reserved Admission Program.
Acceptance Rate: 12.4%
Average GPA: 3.78/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 20.1
2. Eastern Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (Greenville, NC)
The Eastern Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is one of the newer programs on this list, having opened its doors in 2011 to help address the need for rural dental professionals in North Carolina.
Eastern Carolina University’s DMD can easily be enhanced with additional years of advanced dental study and general practice residencies. ECU, like some of the other dental schools we’ve listed so far, uses the AADSAS application system. Candidates who are considered for acceptance will be invited to interview with the college’s admissions committee.
The college’s main campus is in the coastal city of Greenville, but clinical experience for 4th-year students takes place across 8 different locations from small towns to the mountains.
ECU has received recent awards from ADEA and Apple, making it a very promising school of dentistry. However, due to the school’s mission, they only accept North Carolina residents.
Acceptance Rate: 15.8%
Average GPA: 3.5/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 20.6
1. University of Mississippi School of Dentistry (Oxford, MS)
Coming in as one of the easiest dental schools to get into, this college has the highest dental school acceptance rate of the colleges included in this article. One reason for the college’s high acceptance rate is the program is the only dental program of any kind within the state of Mississippi and part of a large hospital system that generates 2% of the state’s yearly economy.
The dental program offered by UM is dedicated to providing an education to those who are from underserved communities and providing quality dental care to those who live in Mississippi. The college offers a DMD degree program plus 4 specialized residencies, including a specific dental oncology program. The estimated cost of attending UM is approximately $70k per year.
As with most dental programs, UM does not require candidates to have taken a specific undergrad major, but you must meet their list of prerequisites. UM does accept applications from out-of-state students, but it is worth noting that in recent years no non-resident candidates have been accepted into the school’s program.
Acceptance Rate: 29.4%
Average GPA: 3.73/4.0
DAT Academic Average: 19.3
Pre-Dental / Dentistry Internships Abroad
Each school featured on this list requires you to be at the top of your academic game and submit a strong, competitive application. To stand the best chances of impressing the admissions committee and getting into a DMD program, you will need to focus on your volunteering and shadowing experiences. This is where we at IMA come in. We offer aspiring dental professionals a variety of pre-dental internships abroad.
These internships provide students with a wealth of hands-on, real-life clinical experience in locations such as East Africa, the Caribbean, and South America.
For more information about dental schools, check out our helpful articles about DMD vs DDS and how to become a dentist. If you need a little extra guidance navigating which dental school is right for you and understanding dental school acceptance rates, contact IMA about our medical school admissions consulting services.
Original Post Date: November 7, 2022 1:42 pm CDT
