by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Dental Clinical Sciences covers Dental Clinical Sciences, General. An Integrated Or Undifferentiated Program That Generally Prepares Dentists In One Or More Of The Oral Sciences And Advanced/graduate Dentistry Specialties. Examples: [Dental Clinical Sciences, General (Ms)], [Dental Clinical Sciences, General (Phd)]. Continue reading for the important information every general dental clinical sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general dental clinical sciences programs.
Across the country, general dental clinical sciences draws strong interest, with 426 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Dental Clinical Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general dental clinical sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general dental clinical sciences programs later in this article.
Studies in General Dental Clinical Sciences develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general dental clinical sciences graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general dental clinical sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general dental clinical sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general dental clinical sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 412 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 14 |
People currently working in careers related to general dental clinical sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general dental clinical sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general dental clinical sciences can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general dental clinical sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general dental clinical sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 222,405 | 12.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general dental clinical sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $209,489 |
| 4 years | $191,956 |
| 5 years | $225,886 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general dental clinical sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general dental clinical sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $100,743 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 26 different general dental clinical sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general dental clinical sciences school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general dental clinical sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
