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Dentistry & Oral Health

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Coursework focuses heavily on the sciences, head and neck anatomy, and specialized oral health. Pre-dentistry students tackle rigorous prerequisites like organic chemistry, biology, and physics to prepare for dental school. Dental hygiene, assisting, and laboratory technology programs emphasize practical clinical skills, teaching students how to take X-rays, perform cleanings, and craft dental prosthetics. Expect significant hands-on laboratory work, simulation labs, and clinical rotations.

What you'll do after college

Graduates work in private dental practices, community health clinics, and specialized oral surgery centers. Pre-dentistry students continue on to dental school to become licensed dentists or orthodontists. Dental hygienists and assistants provide preventative care, support complex dental procedures, and educate patients on oral hygiene. The work is highly hands-on, requires excellent fine motor skills, and involves direct, daily patient interaction.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$67,043
400
100–91%
$73,164
768
91–72%
$70,911
386
71–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$66,699
274
400–1070
$71,285
550
1070–1210
$71,143
273
1260–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$60,557p10 $78,987p90 STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 10–20% 0–10% Oregon Institute of Technology · $71,838 Texas Woman's University · $71,529 University of the Northwest (Pacific University) · $74,393 Ohio State University · $65,031 Texas A&M University - College Station · $75,601 Georgia State University · $45,389 University of Pittsburgh · $64,902 University of New Mexico · $60,557 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $74,455 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $74,320 Ball State University · $76,783 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $69,648 Wichita State University · $64,980 Augusta University · $64,037 Farmingdale State College · $80,036 Clayton State University · $73,921 University of Louisville · $63,787 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $69,789 East Tennessee State University · $62,876 Youngstown State University · $62,374 Indiana University - Northwest · $71,113 Eastern Washington University · $78,627 West Liberty University · $63,885 Ferris State University · $68,215 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $98,432 Rhode Island College · $57,773 West Virginia University · $77,687 Metropolitan State University · $68,455 Indiana University - South Bend · $64,876 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $71,301 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $69,803 Northern Arizona University · $70,673 Old Dominion University · $62,826 Western Kentucky University · $63,143 Virginia Commonwealth University · $79,514 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $72,143 Midwestern State University · $76,301 University of Wyoming · $75,137 University of Southern Indiana · $65,876 Idaho State University · $58,450 University of Mississippi · $59,929 University of South Dakota · $72,958 Utah Valley University · $67,246 Weber State University · $50,255 University of Dayton · $80,795 Lewis University · $68,022 Regis College · $81,539 University of Detroit Mercy · $64,566 Marian University · $74,933 Cornerstone University · $62,324 University of New Haven · $78,559 University of the Pacific · $78,727 University of Bridgeport · $69,049 MCPHS University · $82,629 University of New England · $69,843 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $63,822 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · $78,987 New York University · $57,545 STEM, Business & Military: mean $71,838 Liberal Arts: mean $72,961 Public University: mean $68,612 Religious University: mean $72,030 Private University: mean $75,761 10–20%: mean $71,405 0–10%: mean $57,545 All colleges: p10 $60,557 All colleges: p90 $78,987
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Dentistry & Oral Health 63 1,554 6% / 94% 1% $69,573 97%
Dental Hygiene 39 1,012 5% / 95% 1% $69,957 97%
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 15 462 5% / 95% 0% $68,324 97%
Public Health Sciences 1 33 0% / 100% 0% $63,822 91%
Pre-Dentistry Studies 6 23 30% / 70% 22% $74,412 99%
Pre-Dentistry 4 15 60% / 40% 0% $70,060 99%
Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician 1 9 22% / 78% 0% $98,432 100%