by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Dentistry covers Dentistry. Read on to learn the essential details every dentistry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dentistry programs.
Nationwide, dentistry draws strong interest, with 6,950 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dentistry Schools ranking analyzes these 65 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dentistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dentistry programs later in this article.
Coursework for Dentistry emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dentistry graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a dentistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a dentistry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dentistry 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 | 30 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6,920 |
People currently working in careers related to dentistry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dentistry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in dentistry prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to dentistry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dentistry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General | 2,950,097 | 1.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of dentistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $116,673 |
| 4 years | $138,423 |
| 5 years | $156,494 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for dentistry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dentistry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $157,602 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 65 different dentistry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dentistry school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in dentistry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dentistry | 6,950 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
