Best institutions to study Dental Clinical Sciences
An integrated or undifferentiated program that generally prepares dentists in one or more of the oral sciences and advanced/graduate dentistry specialties.
25 U.S. institutions graduated 419 Dental Clinical Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0501, a specialization of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05), and leads most directly to the Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1071).
About Dental Clinical Sciences programs
An integrated or undifferentiated program that generally prepares dentists in one or more of the oral sciences and advanced/graduate dentistry specialties.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dental Clinical Sciences program, part of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, offers an integrated curriculum designed for those pursuing advanced education in dentistry. This program prepares students for various specialties within oral sciences, equipping them with the necessary skills to excel in the dental field.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics in biology, medicine, and psychology, providing a comprehensive understanding of dental practices and patient care.
Credentials awarded
What Dental Clinical Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree277 graduates / yr · 20 institutions66%
- Post-master's certificate70 graduates / yr · 7 institutions17%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate54 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship18 graduates / yr · 4 institutions4.3%
Graduates over time
Dental Clinical Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 369 |
| 2013 | 322 |
| 2014 | 414 |
| 2015 | 403 |
| 2016 | 439 |
| 2017 | 411 |
| 2018 | 385 |
| 2019 | 385 |
| 2020 | 390 |
| 2021 | 403 |
| 2022 | 382 |
| 2023 | 386 |
| 2024 | 426 |
| 2025 | 419 |
Top 25 institutions for Dental Clinical Sciences, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 59 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 2 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 53 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 3 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 54% | — | — |
| 4 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 29 | 88% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster'sMaster's | 21 | — | — | — |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster's | 20 | 91% | — | — |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicMaster's | 20 | 91% | — | — |
| 8 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster's | 17 | 84% | — | — |
| 9 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicMaster's | 17 | 63% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicMaster'sMaster's | 16 | 64% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 16 | — | — | — |
| 12 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicMaster's | 14 | 46% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster's | 14 | 85% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster's | 13 | 83% | — | — |
| 15 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 16 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 17 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 12 | 75% | — | — |
| 18 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TNPublicMaster's | 12 | — | — | — |
| 19 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicMaster's | 10 | 65% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 9 | 85% | — | $170,705 |
| 21 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicMaster's | 5 | 71% | — | — |
| 22 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | 84% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster's | 2 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
| 25 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NEPublicMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences field (CIP 51.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 20 states
Where Dental Clinical Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1071, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dental Clinical Sciences program can pursue careers as Health Specialties Teachers or Dentists specializing in various fields. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 17.3% and approximately 27,400 annual openings. The median wage for these professionals is around $105,620, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0501
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Dentists, All Other Specialists SOC 29-1029 | $224,990 | +0.3% Little or no change | ~200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Dental Clinical Sciences programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise laboratory sessions.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Tools and technology used
Other Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences specializations
The 14 other 6-digit CIP codes under Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05).
- Orthodontics/CIP 51.0508
Orthodontology 332 graduates / yr40 institutions - Advanced General DentistryCIP 51.0502248 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial PathologyCIP 51.0503201 graduates / yr20 institutions
- Endodontics/CIP 51.0506
Endodontology 161 graduates / yr30 institutions - Pediatric Dentistry/CIP 51.0509
Pedodontics 156 graduates / yr22 institutions - Periodontics/CIP 51.0510
Periodontology 150 graduates / yr28 institutions - Advanced/CIP 51.0599
Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences 138 graduates / yr11 institutions - Prosthodontics/CIP 51.0511
Prosthodontology 106 graduates / yr19 institutions - Dental Public Health and EducationCIP 51.050488 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Oral/CIP 51.0507
Maxillofacial Surgery 39 graduates / yr12 institutions - Dental MaterialsCIP 51.0505limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Implantology/CIP 51.0514
Implant Dentistry limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Digital Dentistry51.0512
- Geriatric Dentistry51.0513
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Post-master's certificate, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 25 colleges offering the Dental Clinical Sciences program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active learning, and more.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 17.3%.
What is the CIP code for Dental Clinical Sciences?+
Dental Clinical Sciences is CIP 51.0501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05). NCES defines it as: An integrated or undifferentiated program that generally prepares dentists in one or more of the oral sciences and advanced/graduate dentistry specialties.
How many institutions offer Dental Clinical Sciences programs?+
25 U.S. institutions reported Dental Clinical Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states, awarding 419 credentials in the year. That is 20.5% of all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences graduates.
How much do Dental Clinical Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Dental Clinical Sciences most directly leads to, pays a median of $107,310 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences field report median earnings of $170,705 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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