Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Michael Tijani
The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) plays an important part in the admissions process for dental schools in both the United States and Canada. The DAT is administered by the American Dental Association (ADA) and is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of aspiring dentists in the areas of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and perceptual ability.
DAT scores are reported on a scale from 1 to 30, with 1 being the lowest score and 30 being the highest. The scores on the individual sections of the DAT are based on the number of correct answers that you get. The scores on the total score are based on the overall performance of all test takers, so it is not possible to determine your total score based on the number of correct answers that you get.
A good DAT score will depend on the dental schools you are applying to and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. In general, a score of 20 or higher is considered to be competitive for most dental schools. However, some dental schools may have a higher minimum score requirement for admission.
It is important to note that the DAT is a competitive exam and the scores needed for admission to dental school can vary from year to year and from school to school. Some dental schools may have a minimum score requirement for admission, while others may consider a range of factors in their admissions process.
So, how important is the DAT in the dental school admissions process?
The DAT is an important factor in the dental school admissions process, but it is not the only factor that is considered. Dental schools typically use a holistic review process when evaluating applicants, which means that they consider a range of factors in addition to the DAT score. These may include undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, prior dental experience, and extracurricular activities.
In this article, you will get to know the dental school DAT scores, the acceptance rates, and the average GPAs of the 70 dental schools in the US.
Dental School DAT Scores in the US
In the table below, we compiled a list of the 70 dental schools in the US and their various average DAT scores, acceptance rates, and GPAs to aid you in making the best decisions as a prospective dental student.
| Dental Schools in the US | Acceptance Rates | Average GPA | Average DAT |
| Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | 2.2% | 3.4 | 19.0 |
| The Dental College of Georgia | 10% | 3.6 | 19.0 |
| Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | 2.5% | 3.4 | 20.0 |
| California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine | 6% | 3.2 | 21.2 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine | 2.67% | 3.6 | 19.6 |
| Columbia University College of Dental Medicine | 3.33% | 3.5 | 22.4 |
| Creighton University School of Dentistry | 3.4% | 3.6 | 19.3 |
| East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine | 13.75% | 3.4 | 18.0 |
| Harvard School of Dental Medicine | 3.18% | 3.8 | 23.0 |
| Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California | 4.26% | 3.5 | 20.0 |
| Howard University College of Dentistry | 3.75% | 3.2 | 17.4 |
| Indiana University School of Dentistry | 7% | 3.5 | 19.1 |
| Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry | 9.28% | 3.6 | 19.0 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine | 5% | 3.74 | 21.0 |
| Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine | N/A | 3.7 | 19 or higher |
| Loma Linda University School of Dentistry | 4.75% | 3.3 | 19.9 |
| Marquette University School of Dentistry | 4% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| The Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine | 7.89% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry | 3.4% | 3.2 | 17.0 |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – Arizona | 4.6% | 3.6 | 19.0 |
| Midwestern University – Illinois College of Dental Medicine-Illinois | 4.48% | 3.4 | 19.0 |
| Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health | 4.5% | 3.4 | 18.0 |
| New York University College of Dentistry | 7.4% | 3.5 | 21.0 |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine | 4% | 3.67 | 20.0 |
| The Ohio State University College of Dentistry | 11% | 3.7 | 20.5 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry | 5.7% | 3.7 | 20.0 |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine | 4% | 3.3 | 20.0 |
| Rutgers School of Dental Medicine | 4.5% | 3.5 | 20.4 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine | 8.3% | 3.7 | 19.0 |
| Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine | 3.07% | 3.5 | 21.0 |
| The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University | 3.47% | 3.5 | 20.0 |
| Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry | 5.88% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine | 9% | 3.8 | 20.0 |
| Touro College of Dental Medicine | 5.23% | 3.5 | 20.0 |
| Tufts University School of Dental Medicine | 2.1% | 3.4 | 20.0 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School | 6.6% | NA | 20.0 |
| University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine | 5% | 3.5 | 20.0 |
| University of Alabama, Birmingham | 8.66% | 3.7 | 20.0 |
| The University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry | 4.5% | 3.7 | 22.0 |
| The University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry | 4.7% | 3.5 | 21.0 |
| The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine | 5.33% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine | 3.2% | 3.6 | 20.7 |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry | 8.05% | 3.7 | 21.0 |
| University of Florida College of Dentistry | 6.33% | 3.7 | 20.0 |
| The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry | 3.33% | 3.47 | 19.8 |
| The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics | 8% | 3.8 | 20.0 |
| University of Kentucky College of Dentistry | 3.6% | 3.5 | 19.0 |
| University of Louisville School of Dentistry | 4% | 3.5 | 19.0 |
| University of Maryland School of Dentistry | 4.6% | 3.5 | 20.4 |
| University of Michigan School of Dentistry | 5.25% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| University of Minnesota School of Dentistry | 9.16% | 3.6 | 20.4 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry | 31.81% | 3.7 | 19.0 |
| Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine | 11.57% | 3.6 | 19.0 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry | 6.25% | 3.8 | 19.0 |
| The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine | 3.86% | 3.4 | 20.1 |
| University of New England College of Dental Medicine | 5.41% | 3.4 | 18.0 |
| The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry | 5.33% | 3.5 | 21.0 |
| University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry | 8% | 3.6 | 20.3 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine | 5% | 3.7 | 21.0 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine | 3.8% | 3.6 | 20.1 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine | 10% | 3.5 | 17.0 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry | 7.2% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | 6.6% | 3.7 | 19.6 |
| The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry | 8.6% | 3.75 | 21 |
| University of Utah School of Dentistry | 2.5% | 3.8 | 21.0 |
| University of Washington School of Dentistry | 6.13% | 3.7 | 21.0 |
| University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry | 5.1% | 3.6 | 22.0 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry | 4% | 3.6 | 20.0 |
| West Virginia University School of Dentistry | 5% | 3.5 | 18.0 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine | 2.54% | 3.3 | 20.0 |
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FAQs
What is a good DAT score?
A good DAT score will depend on the dental schools you are applying to and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. In general, a score of 20 or higher is considered to be competitive for most dental schools. However, some dental schools may have a higher minimum score requirement for admission.
How is the DAT scored?
The DAT is scored on a scale from 1 to 30, with 1 being the lowest score and 30 being the highest. The four main sections of the DAT (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and perceptual ability) are each scored separately on a scale from 1 to 30. In addition, there is a total score, which is the sum of the scores on the four main sections.
How long is the DAT valid for?
The DAT is typically valid for three years from the date that you take the test. After three years, your scores will no longer be considered valid and you will need to retake the test if you wish to apply to dental school.
Can I retake the DAT if I am not satisfied with my score?
Yes, you can retake the DAT if you are not satisfied with your score. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the DAT, but you must wait 90 days between test attempts.
Conclusion
Overall, DAT scores are an important factor in the dental school admissions process and would have a significant impact on your chances of being accepted to any dental school of your choice. By studying consistently with some of the best DAT prep books and practicing for the DAT, you can increase your chances of success on the test and improve your chances of being accepted to dental school.