Best institutions to study Dental Public Health and Education
A program that focuses on the scientific study of dental disease prevention and control, community dental health promotion, and prepares dentists and public health professionals to function as dental health specialists.
13 U.S. institutions graduated 88 Dental Public Health and Education students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0504, a specialization of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05), and leads most directly to the Health Education Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 21-1091).
About Dental Public Health and Education programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of dental disease prevention and control, community dental health promotion, and prepares dentists and public health professionals to function as dental health specialists. Includes instruction in preventive dentistry, the relationship of oral disease to health and quality of life, patient and practitioner behavior, dental epidemiology, nutrition and dental health, dental care policy and delivery, oral health program planning and administration, biostatistics, and research methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dental Public Health and Education program, part of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, focuses on the prevention and control of dental diseases while promoting community dental health. This program is designed for dentists and public health professionals who aspire to specialize in dental health, equipping them with the necessary skills to address oral health issues on a community level.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in preventive dentistry, dental epidemiology, nutrition and dental health, and health care policy. Coursework emphasizes skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, preparing graduates to develop and implement health education programs.
Credentials awarded
What Dental Public Health and Education graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree30 graduates / yr · 6 institutions34%
- Bachelor's degree28 graduates / yr · 1 institution32%
- Post-master's certificate13 graduates / yr · 7 institutions15%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate12 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.7%
Graduates over time
Dental Public Health and Education completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2019 | 69 |
| 2020 | 52 |
| 2021 | 49 |
| 2022 | 118 |
| 2023 | 88 |
| 2024 | 84 |
| 2025 | 88 |
Top 13 institutions for Dental Public Health and Education, 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 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicBachelor's | 28 | 38% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 12 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 12 | 85% | — | $170,705 |
| 4 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicMaster's | 9 | 54% | — | — |
| 5 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 6 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 6 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster'sMaster's | 5 | 75% | — | — |
| 7 | Ilisagvik College Barrow, AKPublicAssociate's | 5 | 46% | — | — |
| 8 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicMaster's | 4 | 54% | — | — |
| 9 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 10 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 11 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 12 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | 84% | — | — |
* 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 10 states
Where Dental Public Health and Education graduates come from. Each state links to all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 28 | St Petersburg College28 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 15 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus12 / yr |
| California | 1 | 12 | University of Southern California12 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 9 | Minnesota State University - Mankato9 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 7 | Boston University6 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 5 | University of Iowa5 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 5 | Ilisagvik College5 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis4 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 2 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | University of Rochester1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1091, Health Education Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Health Education Specialists, with an outlook that is about as fast as average, featuring an annual growth rate of 4.5%. With approximately 7,900 annual openings and a median wage of $63,000, a Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0504
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 Education Specialistsprimary SOC 21-1091 | $64,070 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~7,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Dental Public Health and Education 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 and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.
- Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.
- Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.
- Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.
- Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.
- Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.
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).
- Dental Clinical SciencesCIP 51.0501419 graduates / yr25 institutions
- 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 - 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 are offered in this program?+
Degrees include Master's, Bachelor's, Post-master's certificates, and Postbaccalaureate certificates.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and monitoring.
What types of careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Health Education Specialist or a Health Specialties Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 7,900 annual openings and a median wage of $63,000.
What is the CIP code for Dental Public Health and Education?+
Dental Public Health and Education is CIP 51.0504 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: A program that focuses on the scientific study of dental disease prevention and control, community dental health promotion, and prepares dentists and public health professionals to function as dental health specialists. Includes instruction in preventive dentistry, the relationship of oral disease to health and quality of life, patient and practitioner behavior, dental epidemiology, nutrition and dental health, dental care policy and delivery, oral health program planning and administration, biostatistics, and research methods.
How many institutions offer Dental Public Health and Education programs?+
13 U.S. institutions reported Dental Public Health and Education graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 88 credentials in the year. That is 4.3% of all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences graduates.
How much do Dental Public Health and Education graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Education Specialists occupation, which Dental Public Health and Education most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,070 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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