by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 248 degrees and certificates in Advanced General Dentistry. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Advanced General Dentistry 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 General Dentistry explores Advanced General Dentistry. A Program That Focuses On The Advanced Study Of Dental Clinical Techniques And Dental Practice Issues. Includes Instruction In Subjects Such As The History Of Dentistry, Advanced Dental Practice Management, Dental Ethics And Jurisprudence, Social And Behavioral Science Studies Of Dentistry, Advanced Restorative Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Oral Radiology, Advanced Clinical Procedures And Technology, And Others. Examples: [Advanced General Dentistry (Cert.)], [Advanced General Dentistry (Ms)], [Advanced General Dentistry (Phd)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, advanced general dentistry is a widely-pursued major, with 248 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award advanced general dentistry degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 37.
All 248 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 54% of advanced general dentistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (134 of 248). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (99) and Hispanic or Latino (52), and international students earned 37.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Advanced General Dentistry Schools ranking, including 8 for master’s degrees. It also ranks advanced general dentistry schools within 2 states. In all, 19 colleges offer advanced general dentistry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Advanced General Dentistry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
O*NET rates Critical Thinking the most important skill for jobs related to advanced general dentistry, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Medicine and Dentistry, English Language and Customer and Personal Service. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Deductive Reasoning and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an advanced general dentistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 248 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to advanced general dentistry, at 64.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Advanced General Dentistry, with an average median salary of $102,132; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Family Dentist, Endodontist, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Periodontist.
The occupation related to advanced general dentistry with the most projected jobs is Dentists, General, at 2,950,097.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General | 2,950,097 | 1.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Advanced General Dentistry 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 general dentistry, with a median salary of $157,602.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $157,602 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Advanced General Dentistry has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,801 degrees a year; the largest are Dental Clinical Sciences, General (420), Orthodontics/Orthodontology (340) and Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (201). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
