Top 50 Best Dental Schools in America for 2027: Rankings, Prestige, Admissions, Tuition, and Career Opportunities
Top 50 Best Dental Schools in America for 2027: Rankings, Prestige, Admissions, Tuition, and Career Opportunities
Which dental schools are the best in the United States? Our 2027 guide ranks 50 leading institutions, including Harvard, Michigan, Columbia, Penn, UCLA, NYU, and other respected dental schools.
Choosing a dental school is one of the most consequential decisions an aspiring dentist will make. Dental education can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, making academic reputation, clinical experience, tuition, and career opportunities essential considerations.
The United States has more than 70 accredited dental schools, ranging from prestigious research institutions to public universities focused on clinical education and community healthcare.
For students applying in 2027, the University of Michigan, University of California San Francisco, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stand among America's leading institutions.
However, the best dental school is not necessarily the most prestigious.
Students interested in orthodontics, oral surgery, academic dentistry, or biomedical research may prioritize different institutions than those planning to enter general dentistry or establish private practices.
What Are the Top 50 Dental Schools in America for 2027?
The following ranking combines institutional reputation, research opportunities, clinical education, professional training, and educational value.
The first 12 positions reflect the order of American institutions identified in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject: Dentistry. Positions 13–50 represent an independent editorial assessment rather than official QS numerical rankings.
The 2027 QS dentistry rankings have not yet been published as of October 2026.
Top 50 U.S. Dental Schools for 2027
RankDental SchoolLocationType1University of Michigan School of DentistryAnn Arbor, MIPublic2UCSF School of DentistrySan Francisco, CAPublic3Harvard School of Dental MedicineBoston, MAPrivate4University of Pennsylvania School of Dental MedicinePhiladelphia, PAPrivate5UNC Adams School of DentistryChapel Hill, NCPublic6University of Washington School of DentistrySeattle, WAPublic7NYU College of DentistryNew York, NYPrivate8UCLA School of DentistryLos Angeles, CAPublic9University at Buffalo School of Dental MedicineBuffalo, NYPublic10Tufts University School of Dental MedicineBoston, MAPrivate11Columbia University College of Dental MedicineNew York, NYPrivate12Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineBoston, MAPrivate13University of Iowa College of DentistryIowa City, IAPublic14Ohio State University College of DentistryColumbus, OHPublic15University of Pittsburgh School of Dental MedicinePittsburgh, PAPublic16University of Florida College of DentistryGainesville, FLPublic17University of Maryland School of DentistryBaltimore, MDPublic18University of Connecticut School of Dental MedicineFarmington, CTPublic19University of Minnesota School of DentistryMinneapolis, MNPublic20University of Illinois Chicago College of DentistryChicago, ILPublic21USC Herman Ostrow School of DentistryLos Angeles, CAPrivate22Texas A&M University College of DentistryDallas, TXPublic23Stony Brook University School of Dental MedicineStony Brook, NYPublic24Case Western Reserve University School of Dental MedicineCleveland, OHPrivate25UT Health San Antonio School of DentistrySan Antonio, TXPublic26University of Louisville School of DentistryLouisville, KYPublic27University of Kentucky College of DentistryLexington, KYPublic28University of Colorado School of Dental MedicineAurora, COPublic29Rutgers School of Dental MedicineNewark, NJPublic30Temple University Kornberg School of DentistryPhiladelphia, PAPublic31Virginia Commonwealth University School of DentistryRichmond, VAPublic32University of Alabama at Birmingham School of DentistryBirmingham, ALPublic33Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental MedicineCharleston, SCPublic34Indiana University School of DentistryIndianapolis, INPublic35University of Nebraska Medical Center College of DentistryLincoln, NEPublic36University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of DentistryMemphis, TNPublic37Louisiana State University School of DentistryNew Orleans, LAPublic38Oregon Health & Science University School of DentistryPortland, ORPublic39Creighton University School of DentistryOmaha, NEPrivate40Marquette University School of DentistryMilwaukee, WIPrivate41University of Detroit Mercy School of DentistryDetroit, MIPrivate42Howard University College of DentistryWashington, DCPrivate43Meharry Medical College School of DentistryNashville, TNPrivate44Loma Linda University School of DentistryLoma Linda, CAPrivate45University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of DentistrySan Francisco, CAPrivate46Nova Southeastern University College of Dental MedicineFort Lauderdale, FLPrivate47Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine–ArizonaGlendale, AZPrivate48Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine–IllinoisDowners Grove, ILPrivate49Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental MedicinePomona, CAPrivate50Roseman University College of Dental MedicineSouth Jordan, UTPrivate
Methodology: This is a Rebellion Research editorial ranking intended for prospective 2027 applicants. Positions 13–50 are subjective assessments rather than official QS placements. Rankings do not directly measure graduate earnings, clinical competency, or individual career outcomes.
The 10 Most Prestigious Dental Schools in America
1. University of Michigan
Michigan combines international research recognition, extensive clinical training, and the resources of a major public university. It is particularly attractive to students interested in academic dentistry and advanced specialty education.
2. UCSF
UCSF is internationally recognized for biomedical research and interdisciplinary healthcare education. Its proximity to major medical and biotechnology institutions strengthens its academic environment.
3. Harvard
Harvard possesses exceptional institutional prestige. Its dental school emphasizes biomedical science, academic medicine, and the integration of oral health with general healthcare.
4. University of Pennsylvania
Penn Dental Medicine combines Ivy League recognition with clinical education and research opportunities. Its connections to Penn's broader medical community provide advantages for students interested in healthcare innovation.
5. University of North Carolina
UNC offers a strong combination of clinical education, research, and public-university value. It is particularly attractive to qualified North Carolina residents.
6. University of Washington
Washington has a longstanding reputation for healthcare education, research, and community engagement. Its dental school serves an important role in the Pacific Northwest.
7. New York University
NYU provides extensive clinical exposure in Manhattan. Its large patient population and professional network can be valuable, although tuition and living expenses deserve careful consideration.
8. UCLA
UCLA combines a prestigious public university environment with research opportunities and advanced clinical education in Southern California.
9. University at Buffalo
Buffalo offers respected dental education within the SUNY system. For eligible New York residents, it may provide significant financial advantages over private institutions.
10. Tufts University
Tufts offers comprehensive clinical education in Boston, one of America's leading academic and healthcare centers.
Which Dental Schools Are the Hardest to Get Into?
Harvard, UCLA, UCSF, Michigan, Columbia, Penn, and other highly regarded dental schools attract competitive applicant pools.
However, comparing acceptance rates across dental schools can be misleading.
Public universities frequently prioritize in-state applicants, making admission significantly more difficult for nonresidents.
Applicants should examine each institution's entering-class statistics, including GPA, DAT performance, residency preferences, and class size.
What GPA Do You Need for a Top 50 Dental School?
A GPA of approximately 3.7 or higher can strengthen an application to a highly selective dental school, although successful applicants may have lower GPAs.
Strong grades in biology, chemistry, physics, and other prerequisite sciences are particularly important.
Dental Admission Test performance, clinical shadowing, research, community service, letters of recommendation, and interviews also influence admissions decisions.
The DAT introduced a new 200–600 scoring scale in 2025, replacing the previous 1–30 scale.
Applicants should therefore avoid comparing older DAT averages directly with current scores.
How Much Does Dental School Cost in 2027?
Dental education can be extraordinarily expensive.
At some private institutions, four years of tuition alone can exceed $300,000.
Housing, transportation, equipment, insurance, and borrowing costs can increase total expenses substantially.
Public universities may offer significant savings to eligible state residents.
However, public-school tuition advantages vary, and nonresident tuition can be considerably higher.
Students should compare projected four-year costs rather than annual tuition alone.
What Are the Best Dental Schools for the Money?
Public universities deserve particular attention from students concerned about educational debt.
Michigan, UNC, Buffalo, UCLA, Washington, Florida, Iowa, Ohio State, Maryland, and other public institutions may offer attractive opportunities for qualifying residents.
However, the lowest tuition does not automatically translate into the best educational value.
Students should consider clinical experience, graduation requirements, specialization opportunities, living expenses, and total projected borrowing costs.
For many aspiring general dentists, minimizing debt may be more valuable than attending a marginally more prestigious institution.
Does Dental School Prestige Matter?
Prestige can influence research opportunities, academic connections, and access to certain specialty training environments.
However, institutional reputation is only one component of professional success.
For general dentists, clinical competence, patient relationships, business management, and geographic location may ultimately matter more.
A graduate of an accredited public dental school can build a successful career without attending Harvard, Columbia, or Penn.
Is Harvard or Michigan Better for Dentistry?
Harvard has greater overall international name recognition, but Michigan holds a higher position in the latest QS dentistry-specific rankings.
Michigan may offer an attractive combination of research, clinical education, and public-university tuition advantages.
Harvard provides an exceptionally prestigious academic environment and connections to academic medicine.
Neither school is automatically the better choice for every applicant.
The decision should depend on career objectives, admissions outcomes, and projected educational debt.
Which Dental Schools Are Best for Specialization?
Students interested in orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, periodontics, or pediatric dentistry should examine each school's advanced education opportunities.
Research-intensive institutions such as Michigan, UCSF, Harvard, Penn, Columbia, UCLA, and UNC may provide attractive environments for students considering academic or specialty careers.
However, admission to a dental specialty program depends on much more than the prestige of the applicant's dental school.
Academic performance, clinical evaluations, research experience, recommendations, and program-specific requirements can all influence selection.
Final Verdict: The Best Dental Schools in America for 2027
The University of Michigan enters the 2027 admissions planning cycle as America's highest-ranked dental school in the latest QS dentistry rankings.
UCSF, Harvard, Penn, and UNC complete the national top five.
However, Columbia, UCLA, NYU, Buffalo, Tufts, and numerous other institutions offer excellent educational opportunities.
Students interested in academic dentistry and competitive specialty training may prioritize research-intensive universities.
Those planning to enter general dentistry should pay particular attention to tuition, clinical experience, and projected educational debt.
Ultimately, the best dental school is not necessarily the institution with the most prestigious name.
It is the institution that provides the strongest combination of clinical preparation, professional opportunities, and long-term financial value.
Sources and Further Reading
Editorial note: This article is a 2027 admissions guide based on information available in October 2026. It is not an official 2027 QS ranking. Positions 13–50 are editorial selections, and applicants should verify current tuition, accreditation, and admissions requirements directly with each institution.
