Best institutions to study Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the growth, development, diseases, healing properties, and neurological components of the oral cavity, related tissues and organs, and associated craniofacial areas.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 201 Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0503, a specialization of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05), and leads most directly to the Dentists, All Other Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 29-1029).
About Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the growth, development, diseases, healing properties, and neurological components of the oral cavity, related tissues and organs, and associated craniofacial areas. Includes instruction in oral microbiology microanatomy, craniofacial pain, humoral aspects of disease, etiology and histology of caries, plaque ecology, wound healing, oral disease epidemiology, oral manifestations of systemic disease, lesions, normal and pathologic physiology, and related molecular and physical studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology program is a specialized field within Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. It focuses on the scientific study of the oral cavity, including its growth, development, diseases, and healing properties, as well as related craniofacial areas. This program is ideal for individuals pursuing advanced careers in dentistry and oral health sciences.
Students in this program engage in coursework covering oral microbiology, craniofacial pain, wound healing, and the epidemiology of oral diseases. They will also study the etiology and histology of caries, plaque ecology, and the oral manifestations of systemic diseases.
Credentials awarded
What Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree161 graduates / yr · 15 institutions80%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship23 graduates / yr · 11 institutions11%
- Post-master's certificate17 graduates / yr · 3 institutions8.5%
Graduates over time
Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 106 |
| 2013 | 109 |
| 2014 | 119 |
| 2015 | 151 |
| 2016 | 160 |
| 2017 | 165 |
| 2018 | 150 |
| 2019 | 155 |
| 2020 | 140 |
| 2021 | 151 |
| 2022 | 140 |
| 2023 | 167 |
| 2024 | 187 |
| 2025 | 201 |
Top 20 institutions for Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 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 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 34 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 33 | 75% | — | — |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster'sMaster's | 22 | 84% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 97% | $22,055 | $220,594 |
| 5 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 17 | 93% | — | — |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 7 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 93% | — | — |
| 8 | University of California - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | — | — | — |
| 9 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPublicMaster's | 8 | 51% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 85% | — | $170,705 |
| 11 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 85% | — | — |
| 12 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoral | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicMaster's | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 85% | — | — |
| 15 | Creighton University Omaha, NEPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 83% | $27,353 | — |
| 16 | Augusta University Augusta, GAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicDoctoral | 1 | — | — | — |
| 18 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicDoctoral | 1 | 76% | — | — |
| 19 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
| 20 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 63% | — | — |
* 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 14 states
Where Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | 59 | University of Southern California34 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 57 | Temple University33 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 23 | Texas A&M University - College Station22 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 17 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor17 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 16 | Harvard University16 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 8 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas8 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 5 | University at Buffalo4 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus5 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 3 | University of Missouri - Kansas City3 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 2 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities2 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2 | Creighton University2 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | Augusta University2 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 1 | University of Maryland, Baltimore1 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | Virginia Commonwealth University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1029, Dentists, All Other Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology program can pursue careers as dentists and specialists in related fields. The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 200 annual openings and a median wage of $225,770. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0503
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dentists, All Other Specialistsprimary SOC 29-1029 | $224,990 | +0.3% Little or no change | ~200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
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
- 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, a Doctor's degree (research/scholarship), or a Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
There are 20 colleges in the U.S. that offer this program.
What is the typical annual graduation rate for this program?+
Approximately 201 graduates complete this program each year in the U.S.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as dentists and specialists, with a median wage of $225,770.
What is the CIP code for Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology?+
Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is CIP 51.0503 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 the growth, development, diseases, healing properties, and neurological components of the oral cavity, related tissues and organs, and associated craniofacial areas. Includes instruction in oral microbiology microanatomy, craniofacial pain, humoral aspects of disease, etiology and histology of caries, plaque ecology, wound healing, oral disease epidemiology, oral manifestations of systemic disease, lesions, normal and pathologic physiology, and related molecular and physical studies.
How many institutions offer Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 201 credentials in the year. That is 9.9% of all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences graduates.
How much do Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Dentists, All Other Specialists occupation, which Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology most directly leads to, pays a median of $224,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences field report median earnings of $220,594 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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