Compare dental school cost estimates.
Compare tuition, living costs and estimated interest across 64 school records. Filter by residency, search a school, and use the historical model to start your research.
Data & assumptions
Compare the same residency category when you can. Aid, program length and living costs can matter as much as tuition.
Explore the school cost dataset
Sort by any column. Click a school to see its DAT averages, GPA, class size and deadlines. “Interest” is what accrues during school, before you have made a single payment.
| # | School | Cost, no interest | Interest in school | Historical model total | Projected to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University College of DentistryDallas, TX · Out-of-state | $277,480 | +$65,832 | $343,312 | $401,641 |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University School of Dental MedicineAlton, IL · Out-of-state | $279,728 | +$70,129 | $349,857 | $409,298 |
| 3 | UT Health San Antonio School of DentistrySan Antonio, TX · Out-of-state | $282,136 | +$68,744 | $350,880 | $410,495 |
| 4 | University of Texas School of Dentistry at HoustonHouston, TX · Out-of-state | $292,402 | +$73,118 | $365,520 | $427,622 |
| 5 | University of Michigan School of DentistryAnn Arbor, MI · In-state | $317,477 | +$76,741 | $394,218 | $461,196 |
| 6 | Marquette University School of DentistryMilwaukee, WI · Out-of-state | $345,300 | +$92,392 | $437,692 | $512,056 |
| 7 | Meharry Medical College School of DentistryNashville, TN · Private | $369,285 | +$96,522 | $465,807 | $544,948 |
| 8 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental MedicineBradenton, FL · Private | $371,433 | +$95,784 | $467,217 | $546,597 |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh School of Dental MedicinePittsburgh, PA · Out-of-state | $375,194 | +$98,507 | $473,701 | $554,183 |
| 10 | University of Alabama at Birmingham School of DentistryBirmingham, AL · Out-of-state | $382,483 | +$100,534 | $483,017 | $565,082 |
| 11 | The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Out-of-state | $395,382 | +$105,463 | $500,845 | $585,939 |
| 12 | Stony Brook University School of Dental MedicineStony Brook, NY · Out-of-state | $393,608 | +$107,387 | $500,995 | $586,114 |
| 13 | Dental College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA · Out-of-state | $395,291 | +$106,013 | $501,304 | $586,476 |
| 14 | University of Florida College of DentistryGainesville, FL · Out-of-state | $397,756 | +$107,402 | $505,158 | $590,984 |
| 15 | The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental ClinicsIowa City, IA · Out-of-state | $396,549 | +$108,657 | $505,206 | $591,040 |
| 16 | University of New England College of Dental MedicinePortland, ME · Private | $400,680 | +$106,329 | $507,009 | $593,150 |
| 17 | University of Michigan School of DentistryAnn Arbor, MI · Out-of-state | $403,957 | +$103,982 | $507,939 | $594,238 |
| 18 | University of Colorado School of Dental MedicineAurora, CO · Out-of-state | $402,238 | +$107,790 | $510,028 | $596,682 |
| 19 | University of California, Los Angeles, School of DentistryLos Angeles, CA · Out-of-state | $404,138 | +$106,595 | $510,733 | $597,507 |
| 20 | University at Buffalo School of Dental MedicineBuffalo, NY · Out-of-state | $403,465 | +$110,423 | $513,888 | $601,198 |
| 21 | University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of DentistryKansas City, MO · Out-of-state | $406,458 | +$107,790 | $514,248 | $601,619 |
| 22 | Creighton University School of DentistryOmaha, NE · Private | $407,003 | +$108,672 | $515,675 | $603,288 |
| 23 | Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical CollegeHawthorne, NY · Private | $408,485 | +$107,756 | $516,241 | $603,950 |
| 24 | Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of DentistryNew Orleans, LA · Out-of-state | $408,441 | +$109,052 | $517,493 | $605,415 |
| 25 | West Virginia University School of DentistryMorgantown, WV · Out-of-state | $410,283 | +$115,478 | $525,761 | $615,088 |
| 26 | Case Western Reserve University School of Dental MedicineCleveland, OH · Private | $414,918 | +$111,422 | $526,340 | $615,765 |
| 27 | University of Louisville School of DentistryLouisville, KY · Out-of-state | $417,540 | +$112,449 | $529,989 | $620,034 |
| 28 | Virginia Commonwealth University School of DentistryRichmond, VA · Out-of-state | $419,216 | +$114,814 | $534,030 | $624,762 |
| 29 | University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of DentistryMemphis, TN · Out-of-state | $423,039 | +$114,578 | $537,617 | $628,958 |
| 30 | University of Mississippi Medical Center School of DentistryJackson, MS · Out-of-state | $426,666 | +$112,516 | $539,182 | $630,789 |
| 31 | University of California, San Francisco, School of DentistrySan Francisco, CA · Out-of-state | $428,469 | +$112,028 | $540,497 | $632,327 |
| 32 | Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineBoston, MA · Private | $429,623 | +$117,524 | $547,147 | $640,107 |
| 33 | University of Kentucky College of DentistryLexington, KY · Out-of-state | $431,354 | +$115,997 | $547,351 | $640,346 |
| 34 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of DentistryChapel Hill, NC · Out-of-state | $429,848 | +$119,506 | $549,354 | $642,689 |
| 35 | University of Detroit Mercy School of DentistryDetroit, MI · Private | $432,367 | +$117,338 | $549,705 | $643,100 |
| 36 | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Dental MedicineNewark, NJ · Out-of-state | $437,982 | +$119,910 | $557,892 | $652,678 |
| 37 | University of Connecticut School of Dental MedicineFarmington, CT · Out-of-state | $440,556 | +$119,364 | $559,920 | $655,050 |
| 38 | Oregon Health & Science University School of DentistryPortland, OR · Out-of-state | $440,951 | +$119,764 | $560,715 | $655,980 |
| 39 | University of Utah School of DentistrySalt Lake City, UT · Out-of-state | $439,348 | +$121,688 | $561,036 | $656,356 |
| 40 | Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental MedicinePomona, CA · Private | $445,550 | +$121,281 | $566,831 | $663,136 |
| 41 | Harvard School of Dental MedicineBoston, MA · Private | $448,609 | +$119,059 | $567,668 | $664,115 |
| 42 | A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral HealthKirksville, MO · Private | $454,272 | +$120,764 | $575,036 | $672,735 |
| 43 | Indiana University School of DentistryIndianapolis, IN · Out-of-state | $455,523 | +$125,047 | $580,570 | $679,209 |
| 44 | Loma Linda University School of DentistryLoma Linda, CA · Private | $457,560 | +$125,317 | $582,877 | $681,908 |
| 45 | Columbia University College of Dental MedicineNew York, NY · Private | $463,130 | +$125,917 | $589,047 | $689,126 |
| 46 | University of Oklahoma College of DentistryOklahoma City, OK · Out-of-state | $463,910 | +$126,803 | $590,713 | $691,075 |
| 47 | Tufts University School of Dental MedicineBoston, MA · Private | $464,192 | +$127,625 | $591,817 | $692,367 |
| 48 | Nova Southeastern University College of Dental MedicineFort Lauderdale, FL · Out-of-state | $466,967 | +$130,050 | $597,017 | $698,450 |
| 49 | Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USCLos Angeles, CA · Private | $467,104 | +$131,721 | $598,825 | $700,565 |
| 50 | Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental MedicineCharleston, SC · Out-of-state | $470,309 | +$130,312 | $600,621 | $702,667 |
| 51 | University of Pennsylvania School of Dental MedicinePhiladelphia, PA · Private | $472,379 | +$131,337 | $603,716 | $706,287 |
| 52 | Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental MedicineSouth Jordan, UT · Private | $484,543 | +$132,966 | $617,509 | $722,424 |
| 53 | University of Minnesota School of DentistryMinneapolis, MN · Out-of-state | $490,549 | +$131,002 | $621,551 | $727,153 |
| 54 | University of Nebraska Medical Center College of DentistryLincoln, NE · Out-of-state | $486,255 | +$135,614 | $621,869 | $727,525 |
| 55 | The Ohio State University College of DentistryColumbus, OH · Out-of-state | $494,723 | +$134,285 | $629,008 | $735,876 |
| 56 | University of Illinois at Chicago College of DentistryChicago, IL · Out-of-state | $501,542 | +$136,926 | $638,468 | $746,944 |
| 57 | University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of DentistrySan Francisco, CA · Private | $487,224 | +$151,743 | $638,967 | $747,527 |
| 58 | A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral HealthMesa, AZ · Private | $509,861 | +$139,593 | $649,454 | $759,796 |
| 59 | New York University College of DentistryNew York, NY · Private | $517,812 | +$140,320 | $658,132 | $769,949 |
| 60 | University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental MedicineLas Vegas, NV · Out-of-state | $516,841 | +$144,185 | $661,026 | $773,334 |
| 61 | University of Washington School of DentistrySeattle, WA · Out-of-state | $518,749 | +$142,472 | $661,221 | $773,562 |
| 62 | University of Maryland School of DentistryBaltimore, MD · Out-of-state | $531,072 | +$146,688 | $677,760 | $792,911 |
| 63 | Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-ArizonaGlendale, AZ · Private | $549,402 | +$150,042 | $699,444 | $818,280 |
| 64 | Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-IllinoisDowners Grove, IL · Private | $558,342 | +$152,600 | $710,942 | $831,731 |
Showing all 64 schools.
Five cheapest
Five most expensive
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois $710,942
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona $699,444
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry $677,760
- University of Washington School of Dentistry $661,221
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine $661,026
Why the sticker price lies
Take a school charging $60,000 a year in tuition. You will hear “$240,000” and think that is the number. It is not close. Add mandatory fees and four years of rent, food and transport: call it another $120,000, and you are at $360,000 borrowed. But federal graduate loans start accruing interest the day they disburse, not the day you graduate. The money you borrow in first year compounds for four years before your first payment. Across the schools in this model that in-school interest alone adds roughly $65,000 to $150,000, and it is invisible on every admissions page in the country.
The lever nobody tells pre-dents about
Look at the spread again: $367,630 between the cheapest seat and the most expensive one, for an identical credential. Now ask what actually determines which of those seats you are offered.
It is not your GPA: by the time you are reading this, that is largely locked. It is not your shadowing hours, which are already logged. The DAT is the last variable on your application that you can still move, and it is the one that decides whether you are choosing between offers or grateful for one.
This is why “good enough to get in” is the most expensive mindset in pre-dental. Matching a school’s average DAT gets you a seat. Beating it decisively gets you a seat, a scholarship conversation, and a live shot at the school that costs half as much. Same test. Same eight weeks of your life. Six figures of difference in what you spend the next twenty years paying back.
How this was calculated
For each school we took published tuition and fees plus the school’s own cost-of-living estimate for each of the four years, grew tuition 3.5% a year, and assumed the student finances the full cost of attendance with federal loans: Direct Unsubsidized at 6.6% (plus 1.062% origination) up to the annual maximum, with the remainder on Grad PLUS at 7.6% (plus 4.248% origination). Interest accrues in school, and is compounded through to graduation.
Only one school in the set is modelled at in-state rates, so unless a row is tagged “In-state”, read it as the out-of-state or private figure. That matters: residency is usually the single largest lever on what you pay, and the cheapest row in this table: Texas A&M at $343,312: is an out-of-state number, which is why Texas schools are so heavily applied to.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dental school cost in total?
Across the 64 U.S. dental schools in this model, the estimated four-year cost of attendance ranges from about $343,000 to about $711,000 once in-school interest is included. The median is roughly $547,000. These figures cover tuition, fees and cost of living for all four years, and assume the full cost is financed with federal loans. They are estimates from circa 2022 data, not quotes.
What is the cheapest dental school?
In this model (circa 2022 source data) the lowest estimated four-year cost is Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas at roughly $343,000 with interest, and notably that is the out-of-state figure. Southern Illinois (Alton) and UT Health San Antonio follow at roughly $350,000. In-state residency at a public school is generally the single biggest lever on cost.
What is the most expensive dental school?
Midwestern University's Illinois campus in Downers Grove carries the highest estimated four-year cost in this model at roughly $711,000 with interest, followed by Midwestern Arizona (about $699,000) and out-of-state Maryland (about $678,000). Fifteen of the 64 schools modeled exceed $600,000.
Why is the real cost higher than the tuition on the school's website?
Two reasons. First, sticker tuition excludes fees and living costs, which add tens of thousands of dollars a year. Second, and larger: federal graduate loans accrue interest while you are still in school. Money borrowed in year one compounds for four years before you ever make a payment. In this model that gap between the raw total and the total with interest runs roughly $65,000 to $150,000 per school.
Is dental school worth the debt?
That depends far more on which school you attend than on whether you attend. Every accredited U.S. dental school grants the same DMD or DDS and the same license to practice. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive seat in this model is about $368,000: for the same credential. That is why admissions leverage, and therefore the DAT, has an outsized financial return.
How does my DAT score affect what I pay for dental school?
Your DAT score widens or narrows the set of schools that will admit you, and it is a major input into merit scholarship decisions. A score that only clears a school's average gets you a seat somewhere. A score well above it gets you a choice between seats, including cheaper in-state and public options, and scholarship conversations. Because the cost gap between those seats reaches into the hundreds of thousands, the DAT is the highest-leverage variable left on a completed application.