10 Dental Schools That Accept Community College Credits

Dentistry is one of the highest-paid medical professions, but it also offers an opportunity to fulfill a vital healthcare role anywhere in the country. If you wish to enter dental school, you'll want to make your education as affordable as possible, which involves leveraging all of our previous coursework so there's no need to repeat classes.

Do dental schools accept community college credits? Yes, some of them do. If you attended a community college, we can help you find schools that accept dual enrollment credits and permit transfer credits.

Do Dental Schools Accept Community College Credits?

Yes, most dental schools accept community college credits, but you should research carefully to see which courses qualify. Some institutions have restrictions on what you can transfer and often require you to submit your transcripts through a transfer credit evaluation.

What Community College Credits Are Accepted By Dental Schools?

Dental schools want you to transfer only those credits that are suitable for science majors. For example, if you took a mathematics course as part of your general education requirements, it might fulfill the math requirements for a biology, chemistry, or physics major. Most colleges that accept dual enrollment credits operate this way, placing certain restrictions on the transfer or remedial courses and other non-science-major electives.

List of Dental Schools That Accept Community College Credit

Here is a list of top dental schools that work with former community college students. These colleges also accept dual enrollment credit from various pre-dental degree paths.

1. University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma permits transfer credits for students entering its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) program. Although you may not fulfill core dental courses at any other institution, incoming students are free to take all required prerequisites (60 hours total) at an accredited community college or university.

• Estimated tuition cost: $21,458 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: Students may transfer up to 60 prerequisite hours.
• Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)

2. University of Nebraska

The University of Nebraska Medical Center's website has a section for pre-dental hygiene requirements, showing what it takes for admission. It also mentions that the dental school will accept credits from any accredited school, including community colleges. It does not offer dual credit for dental courses, though.

• Estimated tuition cost: $328.00 per credit hour
• Maximum transfer credits: You can submit up to about 60 credits (or four semesters) of general education credits.
• Accreditation: CODA

3. Midwestern University

Midwestern University does not specify a maximum transfer credit volume it will accept. It instead evaluates transfer students and the credits they submit on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students must write to the admissions board for transfer permission and provide proof of ''good academic standing.''

• Estimated tuition cost: $95,457 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: There is no published maximum.
• Accreditation: CODA

4. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill allows students to transfer all general education coursework into its pre-dental program. This cannot, however, include any previous dental core credits from other institutions.

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,994 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: There is no published maximum.
• Accreditation: CODA

5. University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut not only allows transfer credits, but its web portal even helps students find specific transfer equivalencies for courses from nearby Connecticut community colleges. Some coursework, such as online laboratory classes, may not transfer. Some foreign language credits may transfer if they involve face-to-face or synchronous online learning formats.

• Estimated tuition cost: $44,875 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: The school will accept a maximum of 60 credit hours.
• Accreditation: CODA

6. University of Maryland

The University of Maryland's dental school will allow bachelor's degree students to transfer 90 credit hours to fulfill its 120-credit degree program. If you decide to transfer that many credit hours, then check the school's website for course equivalencies. It has specific guidelines for transferring science versus non-science classes.

• Estimated tuition cost: $11,808 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: You can transfer up to 90 credit hours.
• Accreditation: CODA

7. University of the Pacific

The University of the Pacific's dental school devotes a portion of its web portal to enrolling transfer students for its undergraduate and doctoral programs. You can follow its steps to determine which prerequisite courses can transfer into the school's dental hygiene program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $28,912 per semester
• Maximum transfer credits: The program permits all 64 credits of prerequisite courses for transfer (if they meet the school's guidelines).
• Accreditation: CODA

8. Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University (LSU) publishes its credit evaluation standards for students who would transfer from almost any accredited institution in Louisiana. Although you would have to select a specific institution to find the maximum transfer hours, LSU provides a convenient way to discover transfer eligibility from any university you've attended.

• Estimated tuition cost: $28,418.00 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: LSU does not publish an exact maximum.
• Accreditation: CODA

9. University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota has a competitive dental hygiene program where 75% of transfer students submit a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Interested applicants can review the school's transfer admissions page for details on credit evaluation. All transfer credit inquiries must go to the dental school's admissions board.

• Estimated tuition cost: $35,294 per year
• Maximum transfer credits: There is no published maximum for transfer credits.
• Accreditation: CODA

10. Wallace State Community College

Wallace State Community College has a detailed transfer policy and procedure section on its dental school site. It requires incoming students to have completed any eligible transfer credits (including prerequisites) within the past three years. You must earn a grade of C- or higher for all transferable credits.

• Estimated tuition cost: $129 per credit hour
• Maximum transfer credits: All credits are available for transfer.
• Accreditation: CODA

How We Rank Schools

Check out how we ranked this list of dental schools. The primary criteria are accreditation status, transfer credit flexibility, and program reputation.

• Accreditation: We only include accredited dental schools.
• Credit-transfer policy: These dental programs must honor dual enrollment credits or offer to evaluate students' incoming transfer credits.
• Program reputation: This list includes reputable dental programs, which prepare dental professionals for dental hygienist and dental assistant roles.

What Dental Schools Don't Accept Community College Credits?

There are some dental schools that do not accept community college credits. While these are still respected programs, the following do not accept transfer credits or do so on a very limited basis.

• Harvard Dental School
• Tufts University
• Boston College
• Creighton University
• Indiana University
• New York University
• University of Pittsburgh
• The Ohio State University
• The University of California - Los Angeles
• Howard University

FAQs About Dental Schools and Community College Credits

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) from prospective dental students. This covers academic performance in community college, prerequisite requirements, and admissions requirements for dental school.

Can I Go to a Community College To Become a Dentist?

You can begin your undergraduate education by attending a community college. Some two-year schools even offer a variety of pre-dental or pre-medical courses. You would eventually need to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree in dentistry.

Do Dental Schools Look at Community College GPA?

Yes, if you wish for these courses to transfer, then you must meet certain academic guidelines. Many dental schools set a minimum transfer grade of C- or B- for transfer credit eligibility.

Can You Take All Prerequisites at a Community College for Dental School?

Yes, you can take all prerequisites at a community college if you wish to enter dental school for a bachelor's in dental hygiene at many respected universities. Always check the specific requirements for your intended dental school before applying.

Do Prereqs Expire for Dental School?

Yes, prerequisite courses may expire within three to 10 years of completing them. The exact expiration date varies by dental school, but they often require you to submit credits from your recent college coursework only.

What Is the Easiest Dental School To Get Accepted To?

Many of the universities that accept dual enrollment credits for dental school offer flexible admissions. Although most dental schools have competitive processes, you may find it easier to gain acceptance at institutions like the University of Mississippi.

Explore Dental Programs

Make Learn.org your top resource for finding top dental programs all over the country. We have resources about transfer credits, program admission, tuition affordability, and more for prospective dental students.