Best Dental Schools in California (2026)
California has 7 CODA-accredited dental schools, including UCSF School of Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry and USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Admitted students have a median DAT of about 21 and a median GPA near 3.55. Compare every school below by DAT, GPA, acceptance rate, and tuition — sourced from ADEA admissions data.
7
Dental Schools
21
Median DAT
3.55
Median GPA
5.2%
Median Acceptance
Dental Schools in California, Ranked
All 7 CODA-accredited dental schools in California, sorted by ranking.
| # | School | DAT |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | UCSF School of Dentistry San Francisco, CA | 23 |
| 10 | UCLA School of Dentistry Los Angeles, CA | 23 |
| 20 | USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Los Angeles, CA | 21 |
| 30 | Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Loma Linda, CA | 20 |
| 34 | University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Sacramento, CA | 22 |
| 61 | Western University College of Dental Medicine Pomona, CA | 20 |
| 66 | California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine Elk Grove, CA | 20 |
Dental Schools in California: FAQ
How many CODA-accredited dental schools are in California?
There are 7 CODA-accredited dental schools in California that AdmitBase tracks, including UCSF School of Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry and USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Each is listed below with its DAT median, GPA median, acceptance rate, and tuition.
What are the best dental schools in California?
By admissions selectivity and outcomes, the highest-ranked dental schools in California are UCSF School of Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry and USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Rankings are based on ADEA admissions data, not opinion surveys — see the full California table below.
What DAT score and GPA do you need for dental schools in California?
Across California dental schools, admitted students have a median DAT of about 21 and a median GPA of about 3.55. Selective programs sit well above this; regional programs admit below it. Compare your own numbers school-by-school using the AdmitBase match calculator.
How hard is it to get into dental schools in California?
The median acceptance rate among California dental schools is about 5.2%, ranging from roughly 2.7% at the most selective to 6.5% at the least. Your individual odds depend on your DAT and GPA versus each school's medians.
Is it easier to get into a dental school as a California resident?
At public dental schools in California, in-state residents often pay substantially lower tuition and, for some programs, face a more favorable applicant pool. Private programs generally apply one tuition rate and evaluate residents and non-residents the same way. Residency advantage varies by school — check each California listing below.
See Your Match at California Dental Schools
Enter your DAT and GPA to see which California dental schools are a Safety, Target, Reach, or Far Reach for you. Free to start.
Get Started FreeStatistics sourced from ADEA admissions data. Updated annually. AdmitBase is an independent admissions-data service and is not affiliated with any school.