Minimum GPA Requirements and Average GPAs for Different Dental Schools
Speak to a Dental School Admissions Consultant Today.
20 Minutes Free Consultation
What is the Minimum GPA for Getting Into Dental School?
The GPA or grade point average is one of the most important elements of a dental school application. When reviewing applicants’ backgrounds, admissions committees evaluate both the overall GPA and the science GPA or prerequisite GPA. Often, they also review the AADSAS application or TMDSAS application carefully to examine what courses a predental applicant has taken and how that applicant has performed in each, particularly the science or prerequisite coursework.
What is a Competitive GPA for Dental School?
According to data available on their websites, the average overall GPA of accepted students at different dental schools ranges from 3.25 to 3.85 and the average science GPA of accepted students ranges from 3.17 to 3.81.
To be most competitive for dental school, we advise our students to maintain an overall GPA above 3.6 and a science GPA above 3.5. However, many applicants to dental school get in with lower GPAs.
If you have a lower GPA in your predental studies, the best way to improve your chances of getting into dental school is by taking additional courses and improving your GPA. It also helps if you can demonstrate an upward trend with better grades in more recent coursework.
Which Dental Schools Accept Students with Lower GPAs?
If you plan to apply to dental school with a suboptimal GPA, it’s important to be strategic about which schools you apply to as some dental schools have minimum GPA cutoffs. For example, for an applicant with a 2.95 GPA, applying to programs with a hard 3.0 GPA cutoff is probably not strategic. It’s best instead to target programs that have lower GPA minimums or no minimums at all.
Dental School Minimum GPA Requirements and Average GPAs
Below, we have provided the minimum GPA requirements for different dental schools and the average GPA of accepted students at various dental schools. This data is based on information published on the schools’ websites. Some schools did not provide this information or we were not able to find the data on their website. In these situations, we have indicated that the information was “not found.” Some dental schools also listed preferred, recommended, or competitive GPAs, which we have included where this information was available.
If a Dental School Does Not Provide Information on Minimum GPAs, Does That Mean They Don’t Have a Minimum?
In our experience, if a school does not provide information on minimum GPA requirements, often, they do not have a hard cutoff. However, this is not always the case. To be sure, applicants are encouraged to reach out to the school and confirm this. Conversely, some schools with hard cutoffs may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis so if you are interested in a program but do not meet their cutoff, it doesn’t hurt to reach out and ask if they make exceptions.
List of Dental Schools with GPA Requirements
The list below includes dental schools with no minimum GPA cutoffs followed by those that have a minimum cumulative GPA cutoff in order from low to high. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, we advise students to visit each school’s website.
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, NY
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.7
Average Science GPA: 3.7
Source: https://www.dental.columbia.edu/education/dds-program/statistics
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, MA
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Preferred GPA: 3.6 or higher
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.85
Source: https://hsdm.harvard.edu/DMD-interview-process
High Point University Workman School of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, NC
Minimum Cumulative GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: This is a new program
Source: https://www.highpoint.edu/dental-medicine/
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, NJ
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Overall GPA: 3.7
Average Science GPA: 3.6
Source: https://sdm.rutgers.edu/admissions/predoctoral-admissions/faq
Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, IL
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.6
Average BCP GPA: 3.5
Source: https://www.siue.edu/dental/doctor-dental-medicine/admission-requirements.shtml
University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, CA
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.76
Average Science GPA: 3.7
Source: https://dentistry.ucsf.edu/programs/dds/admissions/
University of Florida College of Dentistry, FL
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Total GPA: 3.85
Average Science GPA: 3.81
Source: https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/ufcd-requirements/applicants/
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, IL
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.6
Average Science GPA: 3.52
Average Non-Science GPA: 3.77
Source: https://dentistry.uic.edu/programs/doctor-of-dental-medicine-dmd/admissions-requirements-for-the-dmd-program/
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, PA
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Minimum Recommended Overall GPA: 3.2
Minimum Recommended Science GPA: 3.2
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.dental.upenn.edu/admissions-academics/dmd-program/admissions/
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Minimum Cumulative GPA: No Minimum
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.7
Average Science GPA: 3.6
Average Non-Science GPA: 3.8
Source: https://dentistry.vcu.edu/programs/dds/requirements/
West Virginia University School of Dentistry, WV
Minimum GPA: No Minimum
Average Overall GPA: 3.75
Average Science GPA: 3.67
Source: https://dentistry.hsc.wvu.edu/students/dds-student-resources/frequently-asked-questions/
Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health at ATSU, MO
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
Minimum Science GPA: 2.5
Minimum Recommended Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Minimum Recommended Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Average GPA: 3.54
Average Science GPA: 3.41
Source: https://www.atsu.edu/missouri-school-of-dentistry-and-oral-health/admissions/preparing-for-admission
University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, IA
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
Average Total GPA: 3.71
Average Science GPA: 3.62
Source: https://dentistry.uiowa.edu/how-apply-dds-program
University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, OK
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.5
Minimum Recommended Math and Science GPA: 2.5
Average Overall GPA: 3.72
Average Science GPA: 3.66
Source: https://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/Academic-Programs/General-Dentistry
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, CA
Minimum GPA: 2.7
Recommended Minimum Science GPA: 3.3
Recommended Minimum Competitive GPA: 3.5
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.47
Average Science GPA: 3.42
Average Non-Science GPA: 3.65
Source: https://dentistry.llu.edu/admissions/dentistry-dds-program
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College, NY
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.7
Minimum Science GPA: 2.7
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.53
Average Science GPA: 3.43
Average Non-Science GPA: 3.70
Source: https://dental.touro.edu/admissions/academic-requirements/
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, AZ
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.75
Minimum Science GPA: 2.75
Minimum Preferred Science GPA: 3.0
Minimum Preferred Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.43
Average Science GPA: 3.33
Source: https://www.atsu.edu/arizona-school-of-dentistry-and-oral-health/admissions/admission-requirements-for-dmd
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, TN
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.75
Minimum Prerequisite GPA: 2.75
Minimum Recommended GPA: 3
Competitive GPA: 3.5
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.uthsc.edu/dentistry/educational-programs/dds/index.php
Augusta University Dental College of Georgia, GA
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.8
Minimum Science GPA: 2.8
Average Overall GPA: 3.75
Average Science GPA: 3.69
Source: https://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/admit/frequentlyaskedquestions.php
California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine, CA
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.80
Minimum Science GPA: 2.80
Preferred Cumulative GPA: 3.20
Preferred Science GPA: 3.20
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.40
Average Science GPA: 3.40
Source: https://dentalmedicine.cnsu.edu/admissions/requirements.php
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine, AZ
Minimum Overall GPA: 3.0
Minimum Science GPA: 3.0
Minimum Competitive GPA: 3.2
Average Overall GPA: Not Found
Average BCP GPA: 3.41
Source: https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/doctor-of-dental-medicine-az
Ohio State University College of Dentistry, OH
Minimum Total GPA: 3.0
Minimum Science GPA: 3.0
*Applicants with an advanced degree will be considered if they do not meet the 3.0 minimum but have a 3.5 GPA in their advanced degree or in their most recent coursework
Average Total GPA: 3.65
Average Science GPA: 3.56
Source: https://dentistry.osu.edu/academics/programs/doctor-dental-surgery
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso-Hunt School of Dentistry, TX
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/sdm/admissions/faq.aspx
University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, NY
Minimum Total GPA: 3.0
Minimum Science GPA: 3.0
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dental.buffalo.edu/education/dds-program/dds-program/doctor-of-dental-surgery–dds-/admissions.html
University of Utah School of Dentistry, UT
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.79
Average Science GPA: 3.73
Source: https://dentistry.utah.edu/education/dds-degree
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, CT
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.2
Average Cumulative GPA: Not Found
Average Science GPA: 3.5-3.6
Source: https://dentalmedicine.uconn.edu/programs-and-admissions/predoctoral-program/
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, FL
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Minimum Science GPA: 3.25
Average GPA: Not found
Source: https://dental.nova.edu/doctoral/admissions.html
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, MA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.bu.edu/dental/admissions/dmd/application/
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, OH
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://case.edu/dental/prospective-students/doctor-dental-medicine-dmd/apply-cwru-sodm/checklist-dmd-applicants
Creighton University School of Dentistry, NE
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.68
Average Undergraduate Science GPA: 3.59
Source: https://www.creighton.edu/dentistry/future-students
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, NC
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.6
Average Science GPA: 3.5
Source: https://dental.ecu.edu/admissions-information/
Howard University College of Dentistry, DC
Minimum Cumulative GPA: Not Found
Minimum Science GPA: 2.8
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dentistry.howard.edu/education/programs/predoctoral-programs/doctor-dental-surgery
Indiana University School of Dentistry, IN
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.62
Average Science GPA: 3.54
Source: https://dentistry.iu.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/doctor-dental-surgery/index.html
Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine, MO
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.kansascity.edu/admissions/requirements/cdm
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine, FL
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Competitive Cumulative GPA: 3.2
Minimum Competitive Science GPA: 3.2
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://lecom.edu/dental/sdm-entrance-requirements/
Lincoln Memorial University – College of Dental Medicine, TN
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.lmunet.edu/college-of-dental-medicine/doctor-of-medicine-in-dentistry/admissions
Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, LA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Competitive Overall GPA: 3.6
Minimum Competitive Science GPA: 3.5
Average GPA: 3.6
Source: https://www.lsusd.lsuhsc.edu/ddsadmissions.html
Marquette University School of Dentistry, WI
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.7
Average Science GPA: 3.61
Source: https://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/faq.php
Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine, SC
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.65
Average Science GPA: 3.59
Source: https://dentistry.musc.edu/students-and-admissions/faqs
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, TN
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Average Science GPA: 3.03
Source: https://home.mmc.edu/admissions/school-of-dentistry/
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine, IL
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Preferred Overall GPA: 3.0
Minimum Preferred Science GPA: 3.0
Average BCP GPA: 3.25
Source: https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/doctor-of-dental-medicine-il
New York University College of Dentistry, NY
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Total GPA: 3.5
Average Science GPA: 3.4
Source: https://dental.nyu.edu/academicprograms/dds-program/faq.html
Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, OR
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Recommended Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Minimum Science Prerequisite GPA: 3.0
Average Overall GPA: 3.73
Average Biology/Chemistry/Physics (BCP) GPA: 3.641
Average Science GPA: 3.675
Average Non-Science GPA: 3.832
Source: https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-dentistry/dmd-admission-requirements
Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, UT
Minimum Total GPA: Not Found
Minimum Science GPA: 3.0 in the last 30 semester credits
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.roseman.edu/academic-programs/college-of-dental-medicine/doctor-of-dental-medicine-dmd/dmd-admissions/
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, NY
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Preferred Minimum GPA: 3.0
Average GPA: 3.7
Source: https://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu/admissions
Temple University Kornberg School of Dental Medicine, PA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dentistry.temple.edu/academics-and-admissions/
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, TX
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.75
Average Science GPA: 3.65
Source: https://dentistry.tamu.edu/admissions/matriculation/2022.html
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, MA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.27
Average Science GPA: 3.17
Source: https://dental.tufts.edu/academics/dmd-program/dmd-program-application
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, AL
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.78
Average Science GPA: 3.72
Source: https://www.uab.edu/dentistry/home/academics/dmd/admissions
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, CA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.72
Average Science GPA: 3.67
Source: https://dentistry.ucla.edu/academics-admissions/prerequisites
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, CO
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.67
Average Science GPA: 3.6
Source: https://dental.cuanschutz.edu/prospective-students/programs-of-study/doctor-of-dental-surgery/apply
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, MI
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Recommended Science GPA: 3.0
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.62
Average Science GPA: 3.54
Source: https://dental.udmercy.edu/programs/dental/dds/faqs.php
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, KY
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative Undergraduate GPA: 3.72
Source: https://dentistry.uky.edu/prospective-dmd-students
University of Louisville School of Dentistry, KY
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.6
Average BCP GPA: 3.46
Source: https://louisville.edu/dentistry/degrees/dmd
University of Maryland School of Dentistry, MD
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: 3.6
Source: https://www.dental.umaryland.edu/admissions/applicant-resources/frequently-asked-questions/
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, MI
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: 3.81
Source: https://dent.umich.edu/education
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, MN
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Cumulative GPA: 3.62
Average BCP GPA: 3.52
Average Science GPA: 3.54
Lowest Cumulative GPA among Accepted Applicants: 2.85
Lowest BCP GPA among Accepted Applicants: 2.67
Lowest Science GPA among Accepted Applicants: 2.79
Source: https://dentistry.umn.edu/doctor-dental-surgery/preparing-apply
University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, MS
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.73
Average Overall Science GPA: 3.63
Source: https://www.umc.edu/sod/Students/Prospective%20Students/Prospective%20Students.html
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, MO
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Science GPA: 3.0
Minimum Preferred Science GPA: 3.4
Average Overall GPA: Not Found
Average Science and Math GPA: 3.7
Source: https://dentistry.umkc.edu/academics/doctor-of-dental-surgery/admissions-criteria/
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, NE
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: 3.74
Average Science GPA: 3.66
Source: https://catalog.unmc.edu/dentistry/program/
University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, NV
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Competitive GPA: 3.5
Minimum Competitive Science GPA: 3.5
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.unlv.edu/dental/faq
University of New England College of Dental Medicine, ME
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.une.edu/dentalmedicine/admissions
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, NC
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dentistry.unc.edu/education/dds/apply/
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, PA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Minimum Preferred Overall GPA: 3.2
Minimum Preferred Science GPA: 3.2
Minimum Preferred Prerequisite GPA: 3.2
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://www.dental.pitt.edu/education/doctor-dental-medicine/dmd-admission-requirements
University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, CA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Total GPA: 3.78
Average Science GPA: 3.72
Source: https://dentistry.usc.edu/admission/doctor-of-dental-surgery-dds/
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry, TX
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dentistry.uth.edu/students/doctor-of-dental-surgery/index.htm
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry, TX
Minimum Overall GPA: Not Found
Minimum Science GPA: 2.8
Average Overall GPA: 3.69
Source: https://www.uthscsa.edu/academics/dental/dds-dental-school-requirements#minimumstandards
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, CA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.6
Average Science GPA: 3.5
Source: https://dental.pacific.edu/dental/academic-programs/doctor-of-dental-surgery/dds-admissions-requirements
University of Puerto Rico, School of Dental Medicine, PR
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: None found
Source: https://dental.rcm.upr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ADMISSION-REQUIREMENTS-School-of-Dental-Medicine-UPR-Rev-Ago-2022.pdf
University of Washington School of Dentistry, WA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average GPA: Not Found
Source: https://dental.washington.edu/students/dds-programs/admissions/how-to-apply/
Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, CA
Minimum GPA: Not Found
Average Overall GPA: 3.35
Average Science GPA: 3.22
Source: https://www.westernu.edu/dentistry/programs/doctor-of-dental-medicine
* For the most up-to-date and accurate information, visit each school’s website and communicate with the school directly as requirements may change. Admissions Helpers cannot guarantee that the information provided here is entirely up-to-date or accurate.