Here are 10 statistics and trends showcasing the shifting dental education landscape:
1. Dental school tuition has increased by 26.5% for residents and 18% for nonresidents since 2017, according to data from the American Dental Association.
2. The total number of students graduating from dental assisting programs in the U.S. has steadily declined over the last 10 years. However, enrollment in dental assisting programs has increased.
3. Dental hygiene programs have seen increases in enrollment and the number of graduates.
4. Fifty eight dental schools have increased their tuition for resident students in the last year.
5. Since 2001, there have been 21 new dental school openings in the U.S.
6. Female dentists represented 55.6% of U.S. dental school graduates in 2024, up from 41.7% in 2004.
7. Dental schools in the U.S. received a total of $177,356,194 in funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in 2024, according to data from the NIDCR.
8. Dentists are growing more concerned about the amount of student loan debt students are graduating with along with the lack of clinical experience they are getting in school.
9. The average program length is slightly longer at private dental schools at 168.5 weeks, compared to 165.9 at public dental schools.
10. Four dental roles recently ranked among 12 professions with the highest amount of student loan debt.
