If your parents are the “Why can’t you be more like…” kind, you might want to keep them far, far away from the trending Chen family.
Because this isn’t just a “one kid went to a good school” situation. Dad? Dentist. Mum? Dentist. Kids? Also dentists.
And not just any kind of dentist. Every one of them has a degree from one of the most competitive dentistry schools in the US.
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The thing about becoming a dentist is that it’s as rewarding as it is hard and expensive.
The average annual salary for a dentist is US$238,252, according to job site Indeed, and from the looks of it and the personal statements of dental student Kay Chung, it can be pretty exciting and fun too.
But just how hard and how expensive is it to become a dentist?
Below are the acceptance rates and annual fees for Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) programmes at the most competitive dentistry schools in the US.
Note that annual fees below include tuition, books, living expenses, food, transport, etc.
Disclaimer: These are the most recent figures we can find online and may vary due to factors such as on- and off-campus living and the year of the programme you’re in.
Most competitive dentistry schools in the US and how much they cost
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, School of Dentistry
QS Ranking: #1
Acceptance rate: 5.71%
Annual fees (international): US$124,336 to US$$147,608
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University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
QS Ranking: #6
Acceptance rate: 4.08%
Annual fees: US$73,092
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Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine
QS Ranking: #10
Acceptance rate: 2.77%
Annual fees (international): US$108,724 to US$$143,642
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University of Pennsylvania, Penn Dental Medicine
QS Ranking: #16
Acceptance rate: 4%
Annual fees (international): US$116,284 to US$155,304
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University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Dentistry
QS Ranking: #17
Acceptance rate: 5.9%
Annual fees (international): US$127,484 to US$140,703
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University of Washington, School of Dentistry
QS Ranking: #19
Acceptance rate: 6.5%
Annual fees (international): US$131,043 to US$147,438
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Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine
QS Ranking: #22
Acceptance rate: 4.68%
Annual fees (international): US$112,048 to US$179,902
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New York University (NYU), College of Dentistry
QS World University Rankings: #23
Acceptance rate: 11%
Annual fees (international): US$164,329 to US$169,041
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Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine
QS World University Rankings: #37
Acceptance rate: 5.2%
Annual fees (international): US$119,659 to US$131,782
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University of Iowa, College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics
QS World University Rankings: #38
Acceptance rate: 9.3%
Annual fees (international): US$119,659 to US$131,782
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