10 Hardest Dental Schools to Get Into in America in 2026
10 Hardest Dental Schools to Get Into in America in 2026
Dental school admissions are highly competitive in the United States. More than 13,600 people applied to U.S. dental schools for the 2025 entering class, according to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Applicant growth has also outpaced enrollment growth in recent years.
For students wondering which dental schools are among the most difficult to enter, acceptance rates, average GPA and DAT scores provide useful benchmarks.
10 Hardest Dental Schools to Get Into
Dental SchoolApprox. Acceptance RateAverage GPAAverage DATHarvard School of Dental Medicine3.5%3.8824University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine3.2%3.7522UCLA School of Dentistry4.1%3.7423Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine4.0%3.7022UCSF School of Dentistry4.8%3.7223Columbia University College of Dental Medicine4.4%3.8226Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine4.2%3.5521University of Southern California School of Dentistry4.5%3.6021Western University College of Dental Medicine5.0%3.5020Creighton University School of Dentistry5.0%3.6520
The figures above are compiled from recent 2025–26 admissions data and should be treated as approximate because dental schools do not all report acceptance rates using identical methodologies. Current published data show particularly low acceptance rates at schools such as Harvard, UConn, UCLA, Stony Brook and UCSF.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Harvard is among the most selective dental programs in the country. Recent data put its acceptance rate around 3.5%, with entering students reporting exceptionally strong academic credentials.
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
UConn has one of the lowest reported acceptance rates among U.S. dental schools. Its relatively small class size and strong academic profile make admission particularly competitive.
UCLA School of Dentistry
UCLA is another highly competitive program, with an acceptance rate around 4% in recent data and entering students typically presenting strong GPAs and DAT scores.
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine
Stony Brook's dental program is particularly competitive, with recent data placing its acceptance rate at roughly 4%. New York residency considerations can also be important when evaluating public dental schools.
UCSF School of Dentistry
The University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry attracts a large applicant pool and has reported an acceptance rate below 7% in recent ADEA-based data. Its entering students also tend to have strong academic credentials.
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Columbia is one of the most academically selective dental programs in the country. Recent data show an acceptance rate of approximately 4–6%, with particularly strong average DAT performance among entering students.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Boston University receives applications from students throughout the United States and internationally. Recent data place its acceptance rate around 4%, making it one of the more competitive private dental programs.
University of Southern California School of Dentistry
USC's Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry has a large and competitive applicant pool. Recent ADEA-based figures put its acceptance rate in the mid-single digits.
Western University College of Dental Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences has a relatively selective admissions process, with recent data placing its acceptance rate around 5%. The school also considers factors beyond traditional academic statistics.
Creighton University School of Dentistry
Creighton is another private dental school with a highly competitive admissions process. Recent data place its acceptance rate around 5%, with an entering-class GPA in the mid-3.6 range.
What Makes Dental School Difficult to Get Into?
Acceptance rate is only one measure of dental-school selectivity. Applicants should also consider average GPA, DAT scores, number of applications, class size, residency preferences and the school's individual admissions requirements.
ADEA's 2025–26 Official Guide to Dental Schools provides detailed information about individual programs, including admissions requirements and application information.
Students applying in 2026 can also use ADEA AADSAS, the centralized application service used by most U.S. dental schools.
Ultimately, a low acceptance rate does not mean that admission is impossible. Students can improve their applications by maintaining strong grades, preparing thoroughly for the DAT, gaining dental experience and researching schools whose requirements match their academic and professional backgrounds.
