Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
One of the ten most expensive dental schools: $518,030 for four years.
From application to first day
Each bar is drawn to scale against applications received.
Applicants per seat
19.2 applicants per seat in 2025 (14.1 in 2000), above the median school's 17.7.
Acceptance rate
14.6% of applicants were offered a seat in 2025, less selective than the median school (10.8%). It was 15.4% in 2011.
Average overall GPA
Average overall GPA of 3.76 in 2025, up from 3.41 in 2000. The median school is at 3.71.
DAT standing among schools
In 2025, its entering class out-scored 45% 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 USC costs
Four years of tuition and mandatory fees: $518,030. That ranks #2 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 | $124,920 | $21,444 |
| 2nd | $124,920 | $16,299 |
| 3rd | $124,920 | $11,507 |
| 4th | $83,280 | $10,740 |
| Total | $518,030 | incl. fees |
75% of the 2025-26 first-year class are California residents.
First-year tuition and fees
Cost is up 50% since 2014-15. Hover a year for the numbers.
Where USC's students come from
2,013 matriculants from 41 states and territories. 80% were California residents.
- California1,60279.6%
- Texas361.8%
- Florida351.7%
- Washington341.7%
- Arizona281.4%
- New York261.3%
Year-by-year data, 2000–2025
| Year | Applications | Examined | Offered | Enrolled | Acceptance | DAT AA | GPA overall | GPA science |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,766 | 2,371 | 405 | 144 | 14.6% | 440 | 3.76 | 3.69 |
| 2024 | 2,639 | 2,403 | 373 | 144 | 14.1% | 21 | 3.76 | 3.70 |
| 2023 | 2,396 | 2,239 | 406 | 144 | 16.9% | 20.7 | 3.78 | 3.72 |
| 2022 | 2,289 | 2,106 | 416 | 144 | 18.2% | 20.5 | 3.73 | 3.67 |
| 2021 | 2,487 | 2,328 | 399 | 144 | 16.0% | 20.9 | 3.67 | 3.61 |
| 2020 | 2,388 | 2,162 | 361 | 144 | 15.1% | 20.3 | 3.49 | 3.40 |
| 2019 | 2,387 | 2,159 | 300 | 144 | 12.6% | 19.9 | 3.59 | 3.51 |
| 2018 | 2,990 | 2,634 | 242 | 144 | 8.1% | 20.3 | 3.57 | 3.50 |
| 2017 | 2,877 | 2,877 | 145 | 145 | 5.0% | 20.4 | 3.52 | 3.45 |
| 2016 | 3,058 | 3,058 | 144 | 144 | 4.7% | 20.2 | 3.51 | 3.42 |
| 2015 | 3,427 | 3,427 | 145 | 143 | 4.2% | 20 | 3.40 | 3.40 |
| 2014 | 3,142 | 625 | 321 | 145 | 10.2% | 20 | 3.50 | 3.40 |
| 2013 | 3,329 | 3,329 | 279 | 144 | 8.4% | 20 | 3.50 | 3.40 |
| 2012 | 3,411 | 3,411 | 377 | 145 | 11.1% | 20 | 3.53 | 3.45 |
| 2011 | 3,262 | 3,262 | 502 | 144 | 15.4% | 19.6 | 3.40 | 3.30 |
| 2010 | 3,228 | 3,228 | — | 144 | — | 19.6 | 3.40 | 3.30 |
| 2009 | 3,199 | 3,199 | — | 143 | — | 18 | 3.20 | 3.20 |
| 2008 | 3,151 | 3,151 | — | 144 | — | 18.2 | 3.40 | 3.45 |
| 2007 | 3,147 | 790 | — | 144 | — | 19 | 3.51 | 3.43 |
| 2006 | 2,677 | 1,764 | — | 144 | — | 20 | 3.47 | 3.37 |
| 2005 | 2,236 | 1,746 | — | 144 | — | 18.6 | 3.40 | 3.32 |
| 2004 | 1,946 | 747 | — | 145 | — | 19.1 | 3.42 | 3.36 |
| 2003 | 1,084 | 1,084 | — | 144 | — | 19.3 | 3.37 | 3.29 |
| 2002 | 1,621 | 1,621 | — | 144 | — | 19.69 | 3.37 | 3.29 |
| 2001 | 1,694 | 1,694 | — | 144 | — | 19.62 | 3.40 | 3.35 |
| 2000 | 1,900 | 1,900 | — | 135 | — | 19.42 | 3.41 | 3.34 |
DAT is on a 1–30 scale through 2024 and a 200–600 scale from 2025. Offers are not available before 2011.