by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dentistry](/majors/health-care-professions/dentistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for dentistry students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dentistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Stony Brook University tops our 2027 list of the best value dentistry schools in New York. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $20,537. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $74,680. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in dentistry will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $82,420. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dentistry will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #3. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Dentistry graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $77,654 early in their careers. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Touro College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value dentistry schools. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $20,285. Dentistry graduates of Touro College earn a median of $79,577 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,285 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
New York University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dentistry, landing the #5 spot this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.