Best institutions to study Pre-Dentistry Studies
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in dentistry.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 59 Pre-Dentistry Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1101, a specialization of Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
About Pre-Dentistry Studies programs
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in dentistry.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pre-Dentistry Studies program is designed for individuals preparing for admission to a professional program in dentistry. This program falls under the broader category of Health/Medical Preparatory Programs and serves as a foundational step for those aspiring to become dental professionals.
Students in the Pre-Dentistry Studies program will gain essential knowledge and skills relevant to the field of dentistry. Coursework typically includes subjects such as biology, chemistry, and anatomy, which are critical for understanding dental practices and patient care.
Credentials awarded
What Pre-Dentistry Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree38 graduates / yr · 5 institutions64%
- Associate's degree13 graduates / yr · 5 institutions22%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions12%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
Graduates over time
Pre-Dentistry Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 121 |
| 2013 | 131 |
| 2014 | 174 |
| 2015 | 83 |
| 2016 | 94 |
| 2017 | 95 |
| 2018 | 83 |
| 2019 | 67 |
| 2020 | 88 |
| 2021 | 77 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 59 |
Top 12 institutions for Pre-Dentistry Studies, 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 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 62% | $35,358 | $30,439 |
| 2 | University of Dayton Dayton, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 80% | $28,560 | $20,263 |
| 3 | Itawamba Community College Fulton, MSPublicAssociate's | 5 | 50% | — | — |
| 4 | University of New England Biddeford, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 68% | $34,673 | — |
| 5 | Creighton University Omaha, NEPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 83% | $27,353 | — |
| 6 | University of California - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicBachelor's | 3 | 62% | — | $37,638 |
| 8 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 3 | 39% | — | $21,326 |
| 9 | Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, MSPublicAssociate's | 2 | 41% | — | $21,070 |
| 10 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NEPublicAssociate's | 2 | 56% | — | $32,840 |
| 11 | Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 62% | $21,132 | — |
| 12 | Casper College Casper, WYPublicAssociate's | 1 | 43% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health/Medical Preparatory Programs field (CIP 51.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Pre-Dentistry Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 17 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences17 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 14 | University of Dayton14 / yr |
| Mississippi | 3 | 10 | Itawamba Community College5 / yr |
| Nebraska | 2 | 6 | Creighton University4 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 4 | University of New England4 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | University of California - San Francisco3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 3 | Ball State University3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Cornerstone University1 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1 | Casper College1 / yr |
Other Health/Medical Preparatory Programs specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
- Health/CIP 51.1199
Medical Preparatory Programs 3,642 graduates / yr110 institutions - Pre-Nursing StudiesCIP 51.11052,938 graduates / yr73 institutions
- Pre-Medicine/CIP 51.1102
Pre-Medical Studies 1,641 graduates / yr111 institutions - Pre-Physical Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1109258 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Pre-Pharmacy StudiesCIP 51.1103225 graduates / yr30 institutions
- Pre-Physician AssistantCIP 51.1111135 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pre-Occupational Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1107105 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Pre-Art TherapyCIP 51.1110partial data18 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pre-Chiropractic StudiesCIP 51.1106limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Pre-Optometry StudiesCIP 51.1108limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer Pre-Dentistry Studies?+
There are 12 colleges in the U.S. that offer this program.
What subjects will I study?+
Core subjects include biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
How many graduates are there each year?+
Approximately 59 students graduate from this program each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Pre-Dentistry Studies?+
Pre-Dentistry Studies is CIP 51.1101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in dentistry.
How many institutions offer Pre-Dentistry Studies programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Pre-Dentistry Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 59 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs graduates.
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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