DDS vs DMD: Is There a Cost Difference?
In this guide 4 sections
Short answer: no. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degree with two names, accredited to the same CODA standard, sitting the same board exams and granting the same licence. Harvard named its degree DMD in 1867 because its faculty preferred Latin; other schools followed one convention or the other. Nothing about the letters changes the curriculum, the clinic or the bill.
What the letters can correlate with is which schools use them, and schools differ enormously in price. So here is the cost split by degree name, with the honest reading of what it does and does not show.
On the figures in this guide: dollar amounts from our cost model are estimates built from published cost-of-attendance data circa 2022, and unless a row says in-state they are out-of-state or private figures. Where we say “projected” we have grown the 2022 figure at 4% a year to 2026. Federal loan rules, interest rates and program terms are quoted as published for 2026–27 and can change; confirm anything you plan around with the school’s financial aid office and at studentaid.gov. Nothing here is financial advice.
Cost by degree name
| DDS programs | DMD programs | |
|---|---|---|
| Schools in the model | 34 | 30 |
| Median 4-yr cost with interest | $535,823 | $558,906 |
| Cheapest | Texas A&M / Baylor ($343,312) | SIU ($349,857) |
| Most expensive | Maryland ($677,760) | Midwestern IL ($710,942) |
Both degree names span nearly the entire national price range. Whatever difference exists between the medians is a statement about which schools happen to use which name, not about the degree. Choose on cost, fit and admissions odds; ignore the letters.
What actually differs between the two
Nothing in law or practice. Both are recognised by every US state board and by the ADA. Both sit the INBDE. Both can apply to any residency. Patients do not know the difference and employers do not care. The only practical effect is the letters after your name on the door.
The question that does change the price
Residency, public versus private, city, and the school itself: those move the four-year cost by up to $367,630 in our model. And which of those seats you are offered depends on an application on which, by the time you read this, only the DAT still moves. If you are going to worry about letters, worry about the three on your score report.
FAQ
Is a DDS or DMD more expensive?
Neither, by design. The degrees are identical and the cost is set by the school, not the letters. In our model DDS programs have a median cost of $535,823 and DMD programs $558,906, and both span nearly the full national range.
Is a DMD better than a DDS?
No. They are the same degree accredited to the same standard, with the same licensure, scope of practice and residency eligibility.
Why do some schools give a DDS and others a DMD?
Historical convention. Harvard introduced the DMD in 1867 and some schools followed; others kept the older DDS. The ADA recognises both as equivalent.