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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

$63,379
404
100–85%
$66,933
809
85–72%
$65,847
416
72–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$64,266
242
400–1070
$68,108
528
1070–1220
$67,674
273
1260–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$55,063p10 $75,688p90 Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Texas Woman's University · $67,506 Pacific University · $82,379 Ohio State University · $66,423 Texas A&M University - College Station · $67,912 Georgia State University · $45,390 University of Pittsburgh · $65,353 University of New Mexico · $68,844 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $65,341 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $69,746 Ball State University · $77,398 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $58,751 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $71,454 Indiana University - Northwest · $54,952 Indiana University - South Bend · $55,063 Oregon Institute of Technology · $70,520 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $59,714 University of Southern Indiana · $65,628 Virginia Commonwealth University · $75,688 Augusta University · $62,099 Farmingdale State College · $63,345 Clayton State University · $61,235 University of Louisville · $55,873 University of Mississippi · $68,980 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $70,617 East Tennessee State University · $67,131 Youngstown State University · $56,938 Eastern Washington University · $66,916 West Liberty University · $64,755 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $98,434 Ferris State University · $61,500 Rhode Island College · $59,765 University of South Dakota · $67,869 West Virginia University · $72,763 Western Kentucky University · $47,488 Wichita State University · $59,866 Metropolitan State University · $70,655 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $66,602 Northern Arizona University · $59,359 Old Dominion University · $66,458 Idaho State University · $61,197 Midwestern State University · $67,720 University of Wyoming · $69,092 Utah Valley University · $67,247 Weber State University · $33,515 University of Dayton · $75,453 Siena Heights University · $67,985 Lewis University · $62,630 Regis College · $81,539 University of Detroit Mercy · $47,747 Marian University · $62,776 Cornerstone University · $56,266 MCPHS University · $65,522 University of New England · $62,888 University of New Haven · $77,986 University of Bridgeport · $59,100 University of the Pacific · $77,424 West Coast University - Orange County · $67,126 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $52,130 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · $69,010 New York University · $57,545 Female-only: mean $67,506 Liberal Arts: mean $82,379 Public University: mean $64,419 Religious University: mean $64,914 Private University: mean $68,341 Public University 1–15: mean $60,570 Private University 1–30: mean $57,545 All colleges: p10 $55,063 All colleges: p90 $75,688
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Dentistry & Oral Health 65 1,629 6% / 94% 1% $64,839 97%
Dental Hygiene 41 1,087 6% / 94% 1% $65,120 96%
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 16 495 5% / 95% 0% $63,398 97%
Pre-Dentistry Studies 6 23 30% / 70% 22% $70,533 96%
Pre-Dentistry 4 15 60% / 40% 0% $63,154 98%
Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician 1 7 29% / 71% 0% $98,434 100%
Dental Services and Allied Professions 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $98,434 100%