Last Updated on April 1, 2022
Are you planning to study dentistry and looking for the easiest dental schools to get into? Here, in this article we cover the grounds for you. Dentistry remains one of the most respected professions nationally, and an increasing number of young men and women seek to enter dental schools each year.
The requirements for getting into a dental school can be exhausting to meet up with, and the acceptance rate is mostly low. If you are looking for a dental school with a high acceptance rate, then, this compilation of the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021 is for you.
Every year, dental schools receive thousands of applications from interested students while only accepting a small fraction of those who apply. Generally, the major headache students who wish to study dentistry have is that most dental schools demand a lot of documents, and a certain level of academic performance from applicants. Notwithstanding, there are dental schools with good acceptance rates where you can study dentistry.
Here, we compiled a list of dental schools that are quite easy to get into in 2021. This article will throw more light on the basic requirements for these dental schools.
Table of Contents
Why is a Dental School Important?
The most important thing to consider in choosing a school should not be the cost, but value. The ratio of quality over price should be considered.
Taking care of your dental health is very important. Truly, having good dental hygiene prevents bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. This is why we all need a Dentist to give us the best dental care we need. In fact, dentistry is one of the best fields to get into.
In addition, a Dentist is also responsible for other operations in the teeth such as the filling and crowning of teeth, the straightening of teeth, and the construction of artificial dentures. However, one can’t just wake up and decide to be a Dentist without attending a dental school.
In simple terms, a dental school is a tertiary educational institution that offers programs for students interested in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases that affect the teeth or gum.
Therefore, if your dream is to attend to the oral healthcare of others, then, attending a Dental school should be a goal you must achieve.
What Do I Need To Apply To A Dental School?
Getting into dental school is so competitive. However, it is not impossible. Dental schools, like every other school, have requirements that should be met by every proposed student.
Before you even get to the application process of any of the easiest dental schools to get into, you have to decide what kind of dental program you want to apply to. Your consideration should be based on these:
- Firstly, you have to be sure of the accreditation of the school.
- Secondly, you have to know about the reputation of the school.
- Also, you should consider the acceptance rate of the school.
Is the School Public Or Private?
Finally, you have to know the number and duration of the program. It is important for each applicant to fully research each institution they plan to apply to. Indeed, it is difficult to get into dental school without a bachelor’s degree. So, if you want to be a dental student, you have to meet up with the requirements below.
Dental School Requirements
Dental school undergraduate course requirements differ from school to school. Here are the basic requirements for anyone who wants to get into dental school.
Before applying to dental school, you must have completed a year of chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry, each with laboratory work and English. Also, some dental schools require undergraduate coursework in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and English composition.
In fact, getting into dental school isn’t just a matter of grades. You also need to participate in extracurricular activities that show you’re a well-rounded student.
Try to volunteer, specifically in activities under the dental or health care fields. In fact, the volunteering experience will give you a major edge over other applicants. Shadowing a professional is also encouraged.
Meanwhile, one nice thing about applying to dental school in U.S.A is that the process is streamlined. In fact, you can apply to schools throughout the U.S.A through a single organization. All you need to do is to fill out all the forms once, no matter how many schools you apply to.
Dental schools do not require a particular major, but it requires a majority of student’s degrees in a science area. By the nature of the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), which is mostly Biology and Chemistry, students tend to major in one of those disciplines.
The DAT score is a requirement for admission to dental school. It is scored on a 1 to 30 scale, while the national average in recent years has been the result of 19 to 20.
If you would like to apply to the easiest dental school, then, you should try your best to achieve the scores that will put you on a competitive footing among all the other applicants.
What is the Dental School Acceptance Rate?
To be accepted by the school of your choice is the goal of every student. However, a school can’t accept every student that submits an application. It is for this reason that you need to also consider the acceptance rate of a school while you apply.
The acceptance rate of a school is determined by the ratio of the number of students who are admitted into that university, to the number of students that applied.
Generally, getting into a Dental School is quite hard. This can easily be attributed to the low acceptance rate of most schools. However, according to research, dental school acceptance rates can be as high as 20% or as low as 0.8%.
Once you’re accepted into a dental school, you will begin a four-year program to complete a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree.
So, if you are interested in attending a dental school, you have to make your application stand out, and also, make sure you meet up with the school’s admission requirements. Good luck, as you put in your best.
Tuition Costs at Public Dental Schools
Well, it is not new to us that tuition in public dental schools is lower than tuition in private schools. This is because public schools receive funding from the state and the federal government.
In 2017 – 2018, public school students paid $37,877. This price includes tuition and mandatory fees, but it does not account for living expenses or supplies. The four-year cost of tuition nears $151,508.
Tuition Costs at Private Dental Schools
Private dental schools tend to charge more for tuition. This is because they lack state and federal funding. Tuition costs vary greatly between schools, but on average, private institutions charge $67,087 per year. The four-year cost totals $268,348. In addition, other expenses include lab fees, preclinical supplies, books, dental kits, scrubs, and exam costs.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Dentist?
Getting a degree in dentistry from any of the top accredited dental schools must require you to give it your time and resources.
In fact, the average time required to complete a dentistry program in a dental school is four years. Meanwhile, this is after you must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree program.
Finally, after you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree program, the next step in becoming a dentist is by taking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). DAT is designed to assess your fit for dental school.
Top 10 Easiest Dental Schools to Get into in 2022
Below is a list of the easiest dental schools to get into:
- University of Mississippi
- LSU Health Science Center
- Ohio State University
- Augusta University
- University Of Washington
- University of Missouri, Kansas City
- New York University
- East Carolina
- University of Utah
- University of Iowa
These easiest Dental Schools are arranged in the order of acceptance rate. These schools are all based in the USA. Carefully follow the schools by visiting the school’s site.
Now that you have all information necessary for choosing a dental program, let’s explore in more detail the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021.
University of Mississippi Dental School
- Accreditation: American Dental Association (ADA)
- Acceptance rate: 19.9%
The school of dentistry at the University of Mississippi is accredited by the American Dental Association. 90% of the students have a bachelor’s degree. However, unlike other dental schools, the University of Mississippi has proven to be the easiest dental school to get into in 2021.
This is because of the school’s high acceptance rate, a number of programs, success rate, the average rate of GPA, and the DAT score accepted.
As a prospective student, the University Of Mississippi School Of Dentistry requires the following math and science courses from you:
- Behavioral science
- Biology
- Organic chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics (algebra, trigonometry) or 1 course in calculus.
- Statistics
The University of Mississippi Dental School overall acceptance rate for students who apply to the is 19.9%. If you are able to have a GPA score of 3.62 and a DAT score of 19.0, then you are good to apply to the school of dentistry, University of Mississippi.
There are 9 programs of study in the school of Dentistry, University of Mississippi. These programs include:
- Advanced General Dentistry
- Biomedical Materials Science
- Care Planning and Restorative Sciences
- Dental Hygiene
- Endodontics
- Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health
- Periodontics and Preventive Sciences
- Advanced General Dentistry
- Biomedical Materials Science
- Care Planning and Restorative Sciences
- Dental Hygiene
- Endodontics
- Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health
- Periodontics and Preventive Sciences
The University of Mississippi accepts applications from July 1 to December 1 the year prior to admission.
For more information on how to apply to the University Of Mississippi School Of Dentistry, visit the school website.
2. LSU Health Science Center
- Accreditation: American Dental Association (ADA)
- Acceptance rate: 17.5%
It is not compulsory to have an academic degree before you apply for admission to LSU School of Dentistry. However, most of the students earn a degree before enrollment into dental school.
The overall acceptance of LSU School Of Dentistry is 17.5%, while at least 57.6% of the accepted students successfully graduate from dental school after completing their programs.
Students entering this educational program must possess a strong educational base. A 3.6 GPA is the average accepted GPA for admission into the LSU School of Dentistry. In addition, the applicant should endeavor to score at least 20 in the DAT.
You should consider taking the following courses before entering the LSU School Of Dentistry: Comparative anatomy, Histology, Cell, and molecular biology, Physiology, Genetics, etc.
All programs of the dental school are fully accredited by the American Dental Association. For more information, visit the school’s website
3. Ohio State University
- Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- Acceptance rate: 15.0%
Ohio State University is one of the easiest dental schools you can get into in 2021. It is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
With 15% acceptance rate, a prospective dental student should definitely consider applying to this dental school. In addition, statistics show that 49.3% of students who study Dentistry at Ohio State University graduate successfully.
The Average Accepted GPA is 3.61, while the Average Accepted DAT Score is 20.1. So, if this is your chosen dental school, you should do well to have a good academic performance.
For more information on how to apply to the Ohio State University, visit the school’s website
4. Augusta University
- Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- Acceptance rate: 13.4%
The Dental College at Augusta University is a public university accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. With an acceptance rate of 13.4%, Augusta University is noted to be one of the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021.
Also, statistics has shown that 41% of dental students who study dentistry at Augusta University successfully graduate. Thus, if you are in Georgia or plan to study in Georgia, then this Dental College should be on your application list.
It is also important for you to take the Dental Admission Test and score at least 20, if you desire to study in Augusta University’s Dental College. Having a GPA of 3.6 and above, is an added advantage.
For more information, visit the school’s website.
5. University Of Washington
- Accreditation: American Dental Association (ADA)
- Acceptance rate: 13.1%
Firstly, it is important to note that the University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on College and Universities. The school is considered very competitive, with the overall acceptance rate of 13.1%.
In addition, the University of Washington has a good success rate of 32.5%. Meanwhile, the average accepted GPA from an applicant to the University of Washington is 3.53.That means students with a lower GPA won’t be admitted.
Also, it is important to note that you must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The average accepted DAT Score for University of Washington’s admission is 20.9
For more information on how to apply to the University of Washington, visit the school website.
6. University of Missouri, Kansas City
- Accreditation: American Dental Association (ADA)
- Acceptance rate: 12.6%
The School of Dentistry, University of Missouri, is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation.
With a reputation of excellence in education since 1881, UMKC is the only institution in Missouri offering advance educational programs and clinical training in 8 programs.
The overall acceptance rate of students at the University of Missouri, Kansas City is 12.6 %( which makes it one of the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021). At least 50.4% of these students graduate successfully.
The average accepted GPA from an applicant to the University of Missouri’s School of Dentistry is 3.73. In addition, the average accepted DAT Score is 19.8.
For more information, visit the school’s website.
7. New York University
- Accreditation: American Dental Association (ADA)
- Acceptance rate: 11.7%
New York University College of Dentistry is accredited by the American Dental Association. Although it is easy to get into, we are aware that New York University is still superior in terms of quality education. In fact, it is known to be one of the most expensive dental schools in the U.S.A.
For this reason, a lot of students choose the affordable dental schools over this one. Notwithstanding, if you have no problem with the tuition fees of a school, then, this should apply to this school.
Also, if you are looking for a dental school with a high acceptance rate, low GPA, and DAT scores, then, you should consider applying to New York University. Check below for the school’s acceptance rate, success rate, average GPA, and DAT score.
- Overall Acceptance Rate (%): 11.7%
- Success Rate % (In-state): 26.3%
- Average Accepted GPA: 3.44
- Average Accepted DAT Score: 21.2
Before you apply to New York University, you must have a bachelor’s degree. As an applicant with a foreign bachelor’s degree, you must complete a minimum of 60 credits at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college. The total educational expenses you will spend in the school of dentistry New York University is $94,978.
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation in dental school. These courses include:
- Biology with lab
- Inorganic/General Chemistry with lab
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- Physics with lab
- English/Writing-Intensive
Also, courses such as comparative anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, histology, embryology, physiology, sociology, philosophy, psychology, and mathematics are recommended.
For more information on how to apply to the New York University College of Dentistry, visit the school website.
8. East Carolina
- Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- Acceptance rate: 11.5%
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Before applying to the ECU School of Dental Medicine, you must obtain a Residency Certification Number (RCN). This is gotten after you complete the Residency Determination Service (RDS) Online Interview.
The ECU School of Dental Medicine encourages prospective students to gain a wide variety of shadowing experiences, engaging in community service and similar activities.
In addition, if you must attend the ECU School of Dental Medicine, then, you must intend to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely and not only for the purpose of attending college.
The ECU dental school is one of the easiest dental schools you can get into in 2021, with an acceptance rate of 11.5%. However, students with a very low GPA below 3.5, won’t stand a chance to be admitted into the school.
A DAT score is also expected from every applicant interested in being a dental student at the East Carolina University. You should score at least 19.9 as your DAT score.
For more information, visit the school’s website.
9. University of Utah
- Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation
- Acceptance rate: 11.1%
The University of Utah is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. As an applicant you are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States college.
As a dental student, the recommended courses include the following: Cell biology, Business, Ethics, Molecular biology/genetics, Computer science, Histology, etc.
All applicants are required to take the DAT and score at least 21. Also, you should note that the average GPA of current students accepted into the program is 3.7.
For more information on how to apply to the University of Utah, visit the school website.
10. University of Iowa
- Accreditation: American Dental Association
- Acceptance rate: 10.4%
The University of Iowa is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Unlike other universities, Iowa University truly appreciates the diversity of humanity and believes in the power of united ideas.
The overall acceptance rate of students into the University of Iowa’s School of Dentistry is 10.4%. This makes it one of the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021. However, you have to do your part to stand out from other applicants.
Most students complete a bachelor’s degree before entering dental school.
As a student, it is important that take your studies seriously. This is because having good grades are important if you want to be a dental student. Thus, you should be able to perform excellently in your GPA with a 3.70 score and also have a good DAT score of 21.
For more information on how to apply to the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry, visit the school website below. Their admission requirements and total cost of studying are all attached here.
The admission process of some dental schools makes it very discouraging for students who wish to pursue a Dentistry profession. However, nothing is impossible to achieve.
Interestingly, a few dental schools while maintaining its accreditation status, have come to the rescue of prospective dental students in search of schools with a high acceptance rate.
This article compiles the easiest dental schools to get into in 2021. Read through the article and pick a school that you satisfy their eligibility thoroughly.
Hope you found this information on easiest dental schools to get into interesting and useful. If you have comments, questions or just want to discuss, do not hesitate to leave a comment.
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