2025-26 · 69 schools · 4 years of tuition + mandatory fees

Dental School Tuition Rankings

The most expensive dental school now costs $545K before you pay a dollar of rent.

Most expensive$544,977Ohio State University, out-of-state

Least expensive$124,268West Virginia University, in-state

Typical public school$230K in-state$375K out-of-state (median of 40)

Typical private school$419Kmedian of 29 private and state-related schools

All schools · In-state (resident) cost

#1 = most expensive. Total is four years of tuition and mandatory fees (instruments, materials, health services and other required fees). Click a column to sort. 69 schools

Rank		4 years	Prior ranks		1st Year		2nd Year		3rd Year		4th Year		Class of 2029

1	Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USCCA · Private	$518,030	1	1	$125K	$21K	$125K	$16K	$125K	$12K	$83K	$11K	75.0%
2	California Northstate UniversityCA · Private	$480,213	4	—	$91K	$23K	$95K	$20K	$100K	$21K	$105K	$24K	87.8%
3	New York UniversityNY · Private	$477,676	6	4	$107K	$13K	$107K	$12K	$107K	$12K	$107K	$12K	39.2%
4	Columbia UniversityNY · Private	$475,427	7	6	$101K	$19K	$101K	$17K	$101K	$18K	$101K	$18K	30.4%
5	Midwestern University - ILIL · Private	$473,077	5	2	$95K	$27K	$95K	$21K	$95K	$22K	$95K	$22K	21.9%
6	Midwestern University - AZAZ · Private	$463,745	3	5	$93K	$25K	$93K	$23K	$93K	$22K	$93K	$22K	27.8%
7	Tufts UniversityMA · Private	$454,388	2	3	$98K	$18K	$98K	$20K	$98K	$13K	$98K	$10K	24.4%
8	University of PennsylvaniaPA · Private	$453,618	10	9	$94K	$23K	$94K	$17K	$94K	$19K	$94K	$17K	7.3%
9	University of the PacificCA · Private · 3-year program	$449,808	8	7	$132K	$26K	$132K	$15K	$132K	$13K	—	—	75.0%
10	Roseman University of Health SciencesUT · Private	$446,966	9	8	$93K	$24K	$93K	$18K	$93K	$18K	$93K	$17K	25.3%
11	Boston UniversityMA · Private	$442,538	12	12	$100K	$15K	$100K	$19K	$100K	$6K	$100K	$4K	35.0%
12	Loma Linda UniversityCA · Private	$436,016	14	13	$90K	$17K	$96K	$16K	$96K	$15K	$96K	$11K	69.8%
13	Case Western Reserve UniversityOH · Private	$434,140	13	11	$90K	$23K	$90K	$17K	$94K	$12K	$94K	$16K	33.8%
14	Western University of Health SciencesCA · Private	$420,883	15	14	$93K	$15K	$93K	$10K	$93K	$11K	$93K	$11K	64.8%
15	Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral HealthAZ · Private	$418,882	11	10	$91K	$15K	$91K	$16K	$91K	$12K	$91K	$12K	21.8%
16	Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral HealthMO · Private	$414,452	16	15	$94K	$12K	$94K	$12K	$94K	$9K	$94K	$8K	28.1%
17	Touro College of Dental MedicineNY · Private	$413,880	18	20	$89K	$21K	$86K	$18K	$84K	$18K	$82K	$17K	39.7%
18	Nova Southeastern UniversityFL · Private	$402,938	17	16	$84K	$27K	$84K	$18K	$84K	$12K	$84K	$10K	71.3%
19	Harvard UniversityMA · Private	$395,065	21	19	$74K	$11K	$74K	$36K	$74K	$27K	$74K	$25K	2.9%
20	University of New EnglandME · Private	$387,551	19	21	$79K	$18K	$79K	$18K	$79K	$18K	$79K	$15K	8.6%
21	Creighton UniversityNE · Private	$384,796	22	18	$77K	$21K	$77K	$18K	$77K	$17K	$77K	$21K	7.6%
22	University of Detroit MercyMI · Private	$373,479	20	17	$84K	$14K	$84K	$10K	$84K	$7K	$84K	$7K	56.0%
23	University of PittsburghPA · State-related	$370,582	31	22	$60K	$22K	$60K	$13K	$60K	$48K	$60K	$47K	33.8%
24	Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private	$361,405	—	—	$74K	$23K	$74K	$14K	$74K	$14K	$74K	$15K	22.5%
25	Temple UniversityPA · State-related	$327,775	23	23	$73K	$12K	$73K	$10K	$73K	$6K	$73K	$6K	46.9%
26	University of California, Los AngelesCA · Public	$327,051	24	25	$57K	$36K	$61K	$24K	$61K	$11K	$61K	$15K	86.4%
27	University of California, San FranciscoCA · Public	$314,769	26	27	$51K	$28K	$56K	$23K	$56K	$21K	$56K	$24K	71.4%
28	University of Illinois, ChicagoIL · Public	$311,729	25	24	$39K	$18K	$58K	$27K	$58K	$27K	$58K	$27K	100.0%
29	LECOM College of Dental MedicineFL · Private	$307,220	27	26	$61K	$21K	$61K	$17K	$61K	$14K	$61K	$8K	40.0%
30	University of WashingtonWA · Public	$304,320	29	28	$59K	$14K	$69K	$14K	$69K	$10K	$64K	$6K	82.2%
31	University of IowaIA · Public	$299,664	36	33	$59K	$25K	$59K	$16K	$59K	$12K	$59K	$12K	76.2%
32	Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private	$295,516	28	29	$59K	$14K	$59K	$23K	$59K	$12K	$59K	$10K	15.8%
33	University of MinnesotaMN · Public	$293,820	34	35	$51K	$14K	$64K	$17K	$62K	$16K	$59K	$12K	65.7%
34	Rutgers School of Dental MedicineNJ · Public	$291,938	30	30	$63K	$16K	$63K	$10K	$63K	$6K	$63K	$6K	72.7%
35	University of MarylandMD · Public	$289,324	35	38	$55K	$20K	$55K	$19K	$55K	$16K	$55K	$16K	50.8%
36	Oregon Health & Science UniversityOR · Public	$282,254	32	31	$51K	$22K	$50K	$20K	$49K	$20K	$48K	$22K	51.3%
37	University of Missouri, Kansas CityMO · Public	$279,756	33	36	$57K	$13K	$57K	$13K	$57K	$13K	$57K	$13K	52.3%
38	Ohio State UniversityOH · Public	$278,031	40	39	$48K	$13K	$60K	$13K	$60K	$11K	$60K	$13K	84.2%
39	Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public	$277,574	38	32	$48K	$24K	$48K	$22K	$48K	$20K	$48K	$19K	62.9%
40	Marquette UniversityWI · Private	$275,160	41	37	$61K	$21K	$61K	$5K	$61K	$2K	$61K	$2K	49.5%
41	University of MichiganMI · Public	$271,411	42	41	$51K	$13K	$61K	$10K	$61K	$8K	$61K	$8K	57.8%
42	Howard UniversityDC · Private	$254,256	45	42	$50K	$17K	$50K	$15K	$50K	$16K	$50K	$5K	5.1%
43	Indiana UniversityIN · Public	$252,889	44	43	$45K	$18K	$45K	$18K	$45K	$18K	$45K	$18K	86.1%
44	University of UtahUT · Public	$248,668	43	49	$48K	$11K	$48K	$15K	$48K	$16K	$48K	$15K	58.0%
45	University of Nevada, Las VegasNV · Public	$237,621	37	45	$63K	$2K	$62K	$2K	$62K	$2K	$42K	$1K	53.8%
46	University of TennesseeTN · Public	$235,804	60	57	$33K	$33K	$33K	$29K	$33K	$23K	$33K	$20K	72.9%
47	University of ColoradoCO · Public	$234,911	47	52	$46K	$15K	$46K	$11K	$46K	$11K	$46K	$14K	52.5%
48	University of ConnecticutCT · Public	$232,603	49	48	$45K	$15K	$45K	$14K	$45K	$9K	$45K	$14K	57.7%
49	University of Nebraska Medical CenterNE · Public	$230,260	50	51	$45K	$15K	$45K	$15K	$45K	$14K	$36K	$14K	73.2%
50	University of FloridaFL · Public	$229,062	52	44	$38K	$22K	$38K	$18K	$38K	$18K	$38K	$21K	90.3%
51	Stony Brook UniversityNY · Public	$228,593	48	46	$39K	$24K	$39K	$18K	$39K	$16K	$39K	$15K	80.4%
52	Southern Illinois UniversityIL · Public	$223,117	51	50	$41K	$25K	$39K	$22K	$39K	$15K	$31K	$11K	90.0%
53	University of North CarolinaNC · Public	$222,791	54	47	$41K	$19K	$45K	$14K	$45K	$11K	$38K	$10K	71.6%
54	University at BuffaloNY · Public	$214,351	46	40	$39K	$15K	$39K	$15K	$39K	$15K	$39K	$14K	76.8%
55	University of Texas at HoustonTX · Public	$209,307	55	55	$37K	$21K	$37K	$18K	$37K	$12K	$37K	$11K	91.5%
56	University of OklahomaOK · Public	$207,908	58	59	$34K	$20K	$34K	$18K	$34K	$16K	$34K	$20K	89.8%
57	LSU Health Sciences CenterLA · Public	$206,179	56	54	$28K	$28K	$28K	$26K	$28K	$21K	$28K	$17K	89.7%
58	University of LouisvilleKY · Public	$201,494	57	56	$41K	$11K	$41K	$11K	$41K	$10K	$41K	$8K	19.3%
59	Texas Tech UniversityTX · Public	$197,425	59	—	$31K	$22K	$31K	$17K	$31K	$17K	$31K	$17K	93.2%
60	University of KentuckyKY · Public	$188,820	61	58	$38K	$13K	$38K	$11K	$38K	$7K	$38K	$5K	59.1%
61	Medical University of South CarolinaSC · Public	$182,258	39	34	$27K	$20K	$18K	$19K	$27K	$20K	$27K	$23K	74.4%
62	University of MississippiMS · Public	$182,080	63	60	$36K	$15K	$36K	$9K	$36K	$8K	$36K	$8K	100.0%
63	East Carolina UniversityNC · Public	$181,430	62	63	$38K	$18K	$38K	$9K	$38K	$10K	$25K	$7K	100.0%
64	UT Health San AntonioTX · Public	$175,202	65	64	$38K	$21K	$38K	$11K	$24K	$9K	$24K	$10K	93.1%
65	University of AlabamaAL · Public	$166,839	64	62	$34K	$8K	$34K	$8K	$34K	$8K	$34K	$8K	77.6%
66	Augusta UniversityGA · Public	$142,904	66	65	$26K	$11K	$26K	$9K	$26K	$9K	$26K	$9K	91.9%
67	Texas A&M UniversityTX · Public	$137,796	67	61	$25K	$9K	$25K	$9K	$25K	$9K	$25K	$10K	87.7%
68	University of Puerto RicoPR · Public	$131,711	68	66	$17K	$22K	$17K	$15K	$17K	$14K	$17K	$13K	95.0%
69	West Virginia UniversityWV · Public	$124,268	53	53	$15K	$23K	$15K	$16K	$15K	$16K	$10K	$14K	62.5%

Rank1 (priciest) → 61+In-state % of first-year class0 → 100%

Where you live changes the bill most at public schools

Total 4-year cost at all 40 public schools, in-state vs. out-of-state. The median out-of-state student pays $145K more. At Ohio State University the gap is $266,946.

In-stateOut-of-stateMedian private school ($419K)

Ohio State OH

U. of Missouri, Kansas City MO

U. of Minnesota MN

U. of Illinois, Chicago IL

Indiana IN

U. of Maryland MD

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine NJ

Virginia Commonwealth VA

U. of Washington WA

U. of Utah UT

U. of Nebraska Medical Center NE

U. of Connecticut CT

U. of Nevada, Las Vegas NV

Oregon Health & Science OR

U. of Iowa IA

Medical U. of South Carolina SC

U. of Oklahoma OK

U. of Louisville KY

U. of California, Los Angeles CA

U. of Mississippi MS

U. of Kentucky KY

U. of California, San Francisco CA

U. of North Carolina NC

U. of Michigan MI

U. of Alabama AL

Stony Brook NY

U. of Colorado CO

U. of Florida FL

University at Buffalo NY

LSU Health Sciences Center LA

Augusta GA

U. of Texas at Houston TX

Texas Tech TX

U. of Tennessee TN

West Virginia WV

Southern Illinois IL

UT Health San Antonio TX

U. of Puerto Rico PR

Texas A&M TX

East Carolina NC

7 private schools cost less than the median public school charges out-of-state students: Howard University ($254K), Meharry Medical College ($296K), LECOM College of Dental Medicine ($307K), Marquette University ($310K), Lincoln Memorial University ($361K), Temple University ($372K), University of Detroit Mercy ($373K).

First-year tuition has climbed every way you slice it

Average first-year tuition and fees, 2014-15 to 2025-26. Private schools are up 38%, public out-of-state 32% and public in-state 44%. Hover a year for the numbers.

PrivatePublic, out-of-statePublic, in-state

Not yet ranked

These schools don't have every class enrolled yet, so there's no full 4-year cost to rank. Here's what the first year costs.

School	State	Type	Classes enrolled	1st year, in-state	1st year, out-of-state
Kansas City University	MO	Private	3 of 4	$108,740	$108,740
High Point University	NC	Private	2 of 4	$84,716	$84,716
Ponce Health Science University	PR	Private	2 of 4	$69,448	$85,828
Universidad Ana G. Mendez	PR	Private	2 of 4	$83,425	$88,500
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	1 of 4	$106,768	$106,768
Northeast Ohio Medical University	OH	Public	1 of 4	$83,238	$118,238
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences	WA	Private	1 of 4	$83,600	$83,600

Total = tuition for every year of the program plus mandatory fees: general fees, instruments, materials, health services and other required costs, as reported by each school to the ADA. Living expenses (rent, food, transport) are not included. University of the Pacific's program is 3 years.

Ranks are within the group shown (all, public or private) and for the residency shown; #1 is the most expensive. Prior ranks use the same method on 2024 and 2023 data. Pitt and Temple are state-related: they receive state support but set tuition like private schools, and are grouped with private schools here.

In-State % = share of the 2025-26 first-year class whose home state is the school's state.

Data: ADA Health Policy Institute, CODA Survey of Dental Education 2025-26, Report 2 (Tables 1, 2, 3, 6, 7) and Report 1 (Table 11). Analysis: Dr. Charley Levy, Path32.