by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 25 U.S. colleges awarded 420 degrees and certificates in General Dental Clinical Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 96% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best General Dental Clinical 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 degree in General Dental Clinical Sciences covers Dental Clinical Sciences, General. An Integrated Or Undifferentiated Program That Generally Prepares Dentists In One Or More Of The Oral Sciences And Advanced/graduate Dentistry Specialties. Examples: [Dental Clinical Sciences, General (Ms)], [Dental Clinical Sciences, General (Phd)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general dental clinical sciences draws strong interest, with 420 degrees awarded annually. 25 colleges award general dental clinical sciences degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 59.
By level, the 420 awards include 402 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of general dental clinical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (257 of 420). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (176) and Asian (71), and international students earned 80.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best General Dental Clinical Sciences Schools ranking, including 18 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general dental clinical sciences schools within 15 states. In all, 25 colleges offer general dental clinical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Dental Clinical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general dental clinical sciences credential is the master’s degree: 402 of the 420 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general dental clinical sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a general dental clinical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 402 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general dental clinical sciences, at 35.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to General Dental Clinical Sciences, with an average median salary of $73,703; the strongest outlook belongs to Dentists, All Other Specialists, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Chiropractic Teacher, Public Health Professor, Otolaryngology Teacher and Immunology Teacher.
The occupation related to general dental clinical sciences with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 222,405 | 12.8% |
General Dental Clinical 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 general dental clinical sciences, with a median salary of $100,743.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $100,743 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
General Dental Clinical Sciences has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,629 degrees a year; the largest are Orthodontics/Orthodontology (340), Advanced General Dentistry (248) and Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (201). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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