US dental school applicant numbers reach decade high

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 14 October 2026

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WASHINGTON, US: A new report by the American Dental Education Association has highlighted encouraging trends in US predoctoral dental education that could inform efforts to address future dental workforce needs. Between 2015 and 2025, both applicant numbers and first-year enrolment increased, as did the number of accredited dental schools. Over the same period, incoming students demonstrated stronger academic credentials, reflected in higher average grade point averages and Dental Admission Test scores.

The report, released in September, examined national trends relating to applicants and first-time, first-year enrollees at dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. It found that the number of applicants reached 13,657 in 2025, up by 16% from 2015. First-time, first-year enrolment increased from 5,943 to 7,073 over the same period, representing a 19% gain.

According to the report, the proportion of applicants who enrolled at a US dental school fluctuated over the decade, rising from 50% in 2015 to 59% in 2023 before falling to 52% in 2025. This recent decline suggests that competition for places has intensified.

The report also highlighted a gradual improvement in the academic credentials of prospective dental students. Average grade point averages increased among both applicants and first-year enrollees over the reporting period. Dental Admission Test score distributions also indicated a shift towards stronger academic profiles.

Growth in applications and enrolment over the reporting period coincided with an increase in the number of dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. In 2015, 65 accredited schools were operating, and nine additional institutions had been established by 2025. Separately, data from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute showed that a quarter of the 7,013 first-year enrollees in 2024 attended dental schools it classifies as new—those opened from 1997 onwards.

The expansion of dental education comes amid continuing efforts to address workforce shortages and improve access to oral healthcare in the US. In July, the American Dental Association reiterated that workforce challenges remained among its highest priorities and noted that persistent staffing shortages continued to limit practice capacity and access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The association has expressed support for the reauthorisation of the proposed Action for Dental Health Act, which would reauthorise federal funding for the dental workforce grant programme until 2030.

The report, titled The 2025 Entering Class: Trends and Insights on Predoctoral Oral Health Applicants and First-Time, First-Year Enrollees, can be accessed here.

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