Best dental schools by value- 2024

Dental school is a great investment, no matter where you go to school. That's because dentists enjoy high salaries ($159,530 per year according to the BLS) and reliable job prospects. Nevertheless, 4 years after graduating, there is a wide discrepancy in earnings for graduates of various dental schools. There is also a big variance in the amount of debt that dentistry students are taking on.

Become a dentist without overspending on your education. Below, we show the best dental schools based on economic returns. Study dentistry while mitigating your debt burden with the high-value schools below.

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#1 in Dentistry

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

Economic score 0.72

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $162,247

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $126,524

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#2 in Dentistry

University of Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut

Economic score 0.87

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $156,777

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.9

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $143,655

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#3 in Dentistry
Economic score 0.99

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $148,445

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.2

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $170,918

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#4 in Dentistry

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Economic score 1.28

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $162,153

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $229,890

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#5 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.28

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $158,619

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $252,399

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#6 in Dentistry

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

Economic score 1.30

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $143,344

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $189,776

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#7 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.33

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $155,236

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $220,937

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#8 in Dentistry

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Economic score 1.33

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $137,933

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $184,220

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#9 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.35

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $143,845

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $201,388

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#10 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.38

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $146,042

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $207,650

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#11 in Dentistry

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Economic score 1.41

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $163,296

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $237,788

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#12 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.45

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $154,801

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $250,824

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#13 in Dentistry

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Economic score 1.48

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $154,592

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $241,115

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#14 in Dentistry

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York

Economic score 1.53

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $149,944

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $268,332

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#15 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.55

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $144,097

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $214,834

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#16 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.57

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $164,107

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $272,055

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#17 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.60

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $139,610

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $224,000

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#18 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.60

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $142,597

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $235,835

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#19 in Dentistry
Economic score 1.62

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $157,147

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $257,402

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#20 in Dentistry

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia

Economic score 1.64

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $141,404

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $232,467

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

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