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CA · FIPS 06 · West · State Pathfinder

California

The #1 producer of dental students, but only 18% go to an in-state public school.

11,249
students started dental school
#1 of 52 in the nation
63%
stayed in-state
7,065 students
4,184
left for another state
#1 most leavers
72
different schools attended
across 38 states
Destinations

Where California's students went

Matriculants from California by the state of their dental school, 2011–2025. Hover a state for the count.

California (stayed home)1–4 students5–19 students20–49 students50–199 students200+ studentsNone
Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In CaliforniaOut of state
  1. University of the PacificCA · Private
    1,74415.5%
  2. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USCCA · Private
    1,60214.2%
  3. University of California, Los AngelesCA · Public
    1,15910.3%
  4. University of California, San FranciscoCA · Public
    9128.1%
  5. Loma Linda UniversityCA · Private
    8627.7%
  6. Western University of Health SciencesCA · Private
    6595.9%
  7. New York UniversityNY · Private
    5564.9%
  8. Midwestern University - AZAZ · Private
    4243.8%
  9. Roseman University of Health SciencesUT · Private
    3232.9%
  10. Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral HealthAZ · Private
    3002.7%
The story

What the numbers say

California sent 11,249 students to dental school from 2011 to 2025, more than any other state. 63% stayed in California, but mostly at private schools: Pacific and USC alone took 30% of all Californians. Only 18% attended UCLA or UCSF, the state's two public dental schools.

4,184 Californians left the state, the most of any state. That's more than all but three states produce in total. NYU was the top out-of-state destination, followed by Arizona's two schools and Roseman in Utah.

Stayed in California for dental school63%
Went to an in-state public school18%
Seats at California's schools filled by residents77%
Inbound

Who else comes here

California's 7 dental schools enrolled 9,163 students; 77% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

  1. Washington219
  2. Florida165
  3. Texas163
  4. Arizona155
  5. New York104
Home schools

Dental schools in California

  • California Northstate UniversityPrivate127 from CA
  • Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USCPrivate1,602 from CA
  • Loma Linda UniversityPrivate862 from CA
  • University of California, Los AngelesPublic1,159 from CA
  • University of California, San FranciscoPublic912 from CA
  • University of the PacificPrivate1,744 from CA
  • Western University of Health SciencesPrivate659 from CA
All 72 schools California students attended
SchoolStateTypeStudentsShare
University of the PacificCAPrivate1,74415.5%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USCCAPrivate1,60214.2%
University of California, Los AngelesCAPublic1,15910.3%
University of California, San FranciscoCAPublic9128.1%
Loma Linda UniversityCAPrivate8627.7%
Western University of Health SciencesCAPrivate6595.9%
New York UniversityNYPrivate5564.9%
Midwestern University - AZAZPrivate4243.8%
Roseman University of Health SciencesUTPrivate3232.9%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral HealthAZPrivate3002.7%
Tufts UniversityMAPrivate2422.2%
University of Nevada, Las VegasNVPublic2181.9%
Touro College of Dental MedicineNYPrivate1881.7%
University of PennsylvaniaPAPrivate1881.7%
Midwestern University - ILILPrivate1751.6%
University of Detroit MercyMIPrivate1291.1%
California Northstate UniversityCAPrivate1271.1%
Columbia UniversityNYPrivate1020.9%
Boston UniversityMAPrivate1020.9%
Oregon Health & Science UniversityORPublic930.8%
University of MichiganMIPublic860.8%
Temple UniversityPAPublic850.8%
LECOM College of Dental MedicineFLPrivate810.7%
Case Western Reserve UniversityOHPrivate760.7%
Harvard UniversityMAPrivate690.6%
Nova Southeastern UniversityFLPrivate600.5%
University of MarylandMDPublic570.5%
Creighton UniversityNEPrivate510.5%
University of New EnglandMEPrivate430.4%
University of UtahUTPublic390.3%
University of MinnesotaMNPublic380.3%
University of PittsburghPAPublic370.3%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral HealthMOPrivate350.3%
Marquette UniversityWIPrivate310.3%
University of ColoradoCOPublic310.3%
Indiana UniversityINPublic310.3%
University of LouisvilleKYPublic290.3%
University of WashingtonWAPublic250.2%
Rutgers School of Dental MedicineNJPublic250.2%
Ohio State UniversityOHPublic210.2%
Meharry Medical CollegeTNPrivate200.2%
University at BuffaloNYPublic200.2%
Howard UniversityDCPrivate200.2%
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVAPublic150.1%
University of IowaIAPublic120.1%
University of KentuckyKYPublic110.1%
Medical University of South CarolinaSCPublic100.1%
Stony Brook UniversityNYPublic100.1%
Kansas City UniversityMOPrivate90.1%
University of TennesseeTNPublic70.1%
West Virginia UniversityWVPublic60.1%
Texas A&M UniversityTXPublic50.0%
UT Health San AntonioTXPublic50.0%
University of North CarolinaNCPublic50.0%
University of Missouri, Kansas CityMOPublic40.0%
University of Nebraska Medical CenterNEPublic40.0%
University of Illinois ChicagoILPublic40.0%
University of AlabamaALPublic30.0%
Lyon College School of Dental MedicineARPrivate30.0%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTNPrivate30.0%
University of Texas at HoustonTXPublic20.0%
Ponce Health Science UniversityPRPrivate20.0%
University of OklahomaOKPublic20.0%
University of ConnecticutCTPublic20.0%
High Point UniversityNCPrivate20.0%
Augusta UniversityGAPublic20.0%
University of FloridaFLPublic10.0%
LSU Health Sciences CenterLAPublic10.0%
Universidad Ana G. MendezPRPrivate10.0%
University of Puerto RicoPRPublic10.0%
Pacific Northwest University of Health SciencesWAPrivate10.0%
Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityOHPublic10.0%