by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 64 U.S. colleges awarded 2,049 degrees and certificates in Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 96% of graduates. College Factual ranks 49 schools in its 2027 Best Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $209,489 one year after completing, rising to $226,253 after four years.
A major in Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences involves the study of Advanced/graduate Dentistry And Oral Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, advanced dentistry & oral sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 2,049 degrees awarded annually. 64 colleges award advanced dentistry & oral sciences degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 100.
By level, the 2,049 awards include 5 associate degrees, 28 bachelor’s degrees, 1,963 master’s degrees and 53 doctorates.
Women earned 59% of advanced dentistry & oral sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,217 of 2,049). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (804) and Asian (381), and international students earned 410.
College Factual ranks 49 schools in its 2027 Best Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 41 for master’s degrees. It also ranks advanced dentistry & oral sciences schools within 26 states. In all, 64 colleges offer advanced dentistry & oral sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common advanced dentistry & oral sciences credential is the master’s degree: 1,963 of the 2,049 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to advanced dentistry & oral sciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long an advanced dentistry & oral sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,963 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 53 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to advanced dentistry & oral sciences, at 35.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.8% |
| Master’s degree | 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences, with an average median salary of $97,058; the strongest outlook belongs to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Nutrition Educator, Clinical Instructor, Instructor and Dental Hygiene Teacher.
The occupation related to advanced dentistry & oral sciences with the most projected jobs is Dentists, General, at 2,950,097.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General | 2,950,097 | 1.1% |
| Orthodontists | 2,252,613 | 5.8% |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 1,956,280 | 13.9% |
| Prosthodontists | 1,802,810 | -3.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 222,405 | 12.8% |
| Health Education Specialists | 169,157 | 3.7% |
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences graduates earn a median $209,489 one year after completing their program, $226,253 after four years and $225,886 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $209,489 |
| 4 years | $226,253 |
| 5 years | $225,886 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to advanced dentistry & oral sciences, with a median salary of $157,602.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $157,602 |
| Prosthodontists | $144,273 |
| Orthodontists | $108,772 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $100,743 |
| Health Education Specialists | $81,726 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $39,627 |
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences includes 13 concentrations that together award 2,049 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Dental Clinical Sciences, General (420), Orthodontics/Orthodontology (340) and Advanced General Dentistry (248). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,035,411 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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