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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

$62,912
389
100–85%
$66,787
840
84–72%
$61,846
393
72–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$62,578
232
400–1070
$66,150
516
1070–1260
$64,149
234
1270–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$51,812p10 $75,427p90 Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Texas Woman's University · $67,640 Pacific University · $86,554 Georgia State University · $44,966 University of Pittsburgh · $64,139 University of New Mexico · $63,869 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $62,361 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $70,265 Ball State University · $71,579 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $60,412 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $63,517 Indiana University - Northwest · $53,880 Indiana University - South Bend · $51,812 Oregon Institute of Technology · $74,031 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $57,061 University of Southern Indiana · $61,011 Virginia Commonwealth University · $75,427 Augusta University · $59,429 Farmingdale State College · $69,436 Clayton State University · $60,588 Old Dominion University · $66,267 University of Louisville · $50,844 University of Mississippi · $60,013 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $66,246 East Tennessee State University · $60,729 Northern Arizona University · $60,161 Youngstown State University · $52,675 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $60,722 Eastern Washington University · $70,043 West Liberty University · $60,565 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $93,383 Ferris State University · $59,226 Metropolitan State University · $71,566 University of South Dakota · $61,969 West Virginia University · $69,997 Western Kentucky University · $43,019 Wichita State University · $53,564 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $71,785 Idaho State University · $60,198 Midwestern State University · $64,004 University of Wyoming · $66,568 Utah Valley University · $65,686 Weber State University · $33,062 North Carolina Wesleyan University · $54,108 University of Dayton · $71,240 Siena Heights University · $67,024 Lewis University · $63,844 Regis College · $87,306 University of Detroit Mercy · $46,980 Marian University · $59,097 Seton Hill University · $59,273 University of Holy Cross · $61,959 Concordia University - Chicago · $60,112 Cornerstone University · $57,253 MCPHS University · $69,692 University of New England · $62,168 University of New Haven · $80,599 University of Bridgeport · $61,404 University of the Pacific · $84,427 West Coast University - Orange County · $76,042 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $51,393 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · $67,230 Texas A&M University - College Station · $64,298 Ohio State University · $63,442 New York University · $62,688 Female-only: mean $67,640 Liberal Arts: mean $86,554 Public University: mean $62,152 Religious University: mean $62,563 Private University: mean $72,389 Public University 1–25: mean $61,591 Private University 21–40: mean $62,688 All colleges: p10 $51,812 All colleges: p90 $75,427
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Dentistry & Oral Health 65 1,622 6% / 94% 1% $63,970 97%
Dental Hygiene 41 1,090 6% / 94% 1% $64,842 96%
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 16 488 5% / 95% 0% $61,025 97%
Pre-Dentistry Studies 6 17 18% / 82% 18% $67,771 96%
Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician 1 12 33% / 67% 0% $93,383 100%
Pre-Dentistry 4 11 55% / 45% 0% $61,970 98%
Dental Services and Allied Professions 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $93,383 100%
Dental Assisting 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $67,024 100%