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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in California

4 Colleges in the United States
$18,412 Avg Student Debt
$84,485 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Dentistry Badge [Dentistry](/majors/health-care-professions/dentistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for dentistry students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dentistry, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Dentistry Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of California Los Angeles, our #1 best value for dentistry in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $78,035. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of The Pacific one of the best values for dentistry. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,080. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $23,514. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $102,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.

3

Students looking for strong value in dentistry will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the dentistry program here. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $79,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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