Best institutions to study Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery
A program that focuses on the advanced study of the diagnosis and intrusive and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions, including functional and aesthetic aspects.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 39 Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0507, a specialization of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (CIP 51.05), and leads most directly to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons occupation (BLS SOC 29-1022).
About Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery programs
A program that focuses on the advanced study of the diagnosis and intrusive and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions, including functional and aesthetic aspects. Includes instruction in pharmacology, analgesia, anesthesia, anxiety control, surgical procedures and techniques, surgical instrumentation, exodontia, oral diseases and malfunctions, soft and hard tissue pathology, dentoalveolar surgery, infection management, and prosthetic implantation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery program, part of Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, focuses on the advanced study of diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions. This program is designed for dental professionals seeking to enhance their surgical skills and knowledge in both functional and aesthetic aspects of oral health.
Students in this program will gain expertise in various areas, including pharmacology, anesthesia, surgical procedures, and infection management. Coursework emphasizes critical skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication, preparing graduates for complex surgical tasks.
Credentials awarded
What Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Post-master's certificate37 graduates / yr · 12 institutions95%
- Master's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.1%
Graduates over time
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2014 | 33 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 43 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 39 |
Top 12 institutions for Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 7 | — | — |
| 2 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicMaster'sMaster's | 5 | — | — |
| 3 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | — | — |
| 4 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 89% | $21,956 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 92% | $26,873 |
| 6 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 63% | $31,672 |
| 7 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 87% | $27,976 |
| 8 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | — | — |
| 9 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | 84% | — |
| 10 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 94% | $23,570 |
| 11 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — |
| 12 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — |
Offered in 8 states & territories
Where Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3 | 13 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston7 / yr |
| California | 2 | 7 | Loma Linda University4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 6 | Boston University4 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 5 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences5 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 3 | Nova Southeastern University3 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 3 | Case Western Reserve University3 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | University at Buffalo1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Temple University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1022, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery program can pursue careers as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, with a median wage of $239,200. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 200 annual openings. Typically, a doctoral or professional degree is required for these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0507
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeonsprimary SOC 29-1022 | $352,220 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | 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 Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery 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
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
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 - Dental Public Health and EducationCIP 51.050488 graduates / yr13 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?+
The program offers a Post-master's certificate and a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and surgical techniques.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.1%.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 12 colleges offering this program across the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery?+
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery is CIP 51.0507 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 advanced study of the diagnosis and intrusive and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions, including functional and aesthetic aspects. Includes instruction in pharmacology, analgesia, anesthesia, anxiety control, surgical procedures and techniques, surgical instrumentation, exodontia, oral diseases and malfunctions, soft and hard tissue pathology, dentoalveolar surgery, infection management, and prosthetic implantation.
How many institutions offer Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states & territories, awarding 39 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences graduates.
How much do Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons occupation, which Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery most directly leads to, pays a median of $352,220 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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