California Northstate University
One of the ten most expensive dental schools: $480,213 for four years.
From application to first day
Each bar is drawn to scale against applications received.
Applicants per seat
17.2 applicants per seat in 2025 (16.1 in 2022), below the median school's 17.7.
Acceptance rate
21.0% of applicants were offered a seat in 2025, less selective than the median school (10.8%). It was 22.3% in 2022.
Average overall GPA
Average overall GPA of 3.51 in 2025, up from 3.30 in 2022. The median school is at 3.71.
DAT standing among schools
In 2025, its entering class out-scored 35% of other schools on the DAT Academic Average.
Percent of other schools with a lower DAT Academic Average that year. Ranking within each year keeps the 2025 move to a 200–600 scale comparable.
What CNU costs
Four years of tuition and mandatory fees: $480,213. That ranks #6 most expensive of 69 schools. Living expenses are not included.
Year by year
Tuition and mandatory fees for each year of the program, 2025-26.
| Year | Tuition | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $90,620 | $23,360 |
| 2nd | $95,151 | $20,435 |
| 3rd | $99,909 | $21,497 |
| 4th | $104,904 | $24,337 |
| Total | $480,213 | incl. fees |
88% of the 2025-26 first-year class are California residents.
First-year tuition and fees
Cost is up 14% since 2022-23. Hover a year for the numbers.
Where CNU's students come from
163 matriculants from 17 states and territories. 78% were California residents.
- California12777.9%
- Texas74.3%
- Florida42.5%
- Oregon42.5%
- Virginia31.8%
- Colorado21.2%
Year-by-year data, 2022–2025
| Year | Applications | Examined | Offered | Enrolled | Acceptance | DAT AA | GPA overall | GPA science |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 705 | 540 | 148 | 41 | 21.0% | 430 | 3.51 | 3.40 |
| 2024 | 627 | 502 | 164 | 39 | 26.2% | 19.9 | 3.42 | 3.30 |
| 2023 | 685 | 527 | 172 | 43 | 25.1% | 20.6 | 3.48 | 3.40 |
| 2022 | 646 | 646 | 144 | 40 | 22.3% | 20 | 3.30 | 3.20 |
DAT is on a 1–30 scale through 2024 and a 200–600 scale from 2025. Offers are not available before 2011.