U.S. Dental Schools by the Numbers

We maintain a directory of every accredited U.S. dental school that awards the predoctoral DDS or DMD degree. Here is what that full set of 72 schools looks like when you analyze it as a whole — by geography, public vs. private control, degree awarded, and founding era. Every figure below is computed directly from our directory, so it matches the schools you can browse on the site.

By the List of Dental Schools editorial team · Published June 2026 · How we compile this directory →

Where U.S. dental schools are

The 72 schools are spread across 39 states and jurisdictions. By U.S. Census region, the largest concentration is the South (26 schools, 36.1%).

At the state level the schools cluster in a few large states — the top five are California (7), New York (5), Texas (4), Florida (3), Illinois (3) — while 22 states have exactly one dental school. Many states have none, which is why dental school is an out-of-state move for a large share of applicants.

Public vs. private

Public schools are the majority: 42 of 72 (58.3%) are public and 30 (41.7%) are private (private non-profit, with a few private programs at health-sciences universities). Public schools are typically state-supported, which is one reason in-state tuition often differs sharply from out-of-state and private tuition — verify current costs with each school.

DDS vs. DMD

The degree label is almost evenly split: 37 schools award the DMD (51.4%) and 35 award the DDS (48.6%). The two are equivalent — same curriculum requirements, same accreditation, same licensing exams. The choice between ‘DDS’ and ‘DMD’ is historical naming, not a difference in training or scope of practice.

Founding era: an old core and a recent wave

U.S. dental education has a deep history and a recent expansion. The oldest school in the directory is University of Maryland School of Dentistry (1840); the newest is Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (2024). 18 of the 72 schools (25.0%) were founded in 2000 or later, and 5 opened in 2020 or later — evidence of a continuing wave of new (mostly private) dental programs.

Sources & method

Every number on this page is computed directly from our own directory of accredited U.S. dental schools, so the totals here always equal the listings on the site. The underlying facts — names, locations, public/private control, degree awarded, and founding year — are compiled from the American Dental Association, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the ADEA, and U.S. Department of Education IPEDS (public/private classification). Regional grouping follows the U.S. Census Bureau four-region scheme, with Puerto Rico reported separately as a territory. See our methodology for the full compilation process.

Informational only. Accreditation and school details change over time; confirm current details with each school and CODA before relying on them.

About this data. School names, locations, public/private control, and the predoctoral degree awarded are compiled from the American Dental Association, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the ADEA, and U.S. Department of Education IPEDS. Always confirm current details with the school and CODA before making decisions. This site is informational only and is not affiliated with any school.