New, Comprehensive Dental School Rankings

Started by theroadshow
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theroadshow

Full Member
10+ Year Member
First of all, I know this thread will be controversial. Many on this board have very strong feelings against rankings. However, it is a fact that every other major field (or nearly every other) is ranked by US News and/or another reputable organization. Let me state in advance that I won't personally be disputing the merits of rankings on this thread. I would, however, be happy to incorporate any objective feedback into any future, updated dental school rankings.

I also anticipate the following: some will claim that any ranking system that doesn't have Harvard, Columbia, and Penn ("the Ivies") in the top 10 is not legitimate. However, it is a very reasonable result to find that these schools are below the top 10. It is widely known that the Ivies used their clout to end the dental school rankings when US News excluded them from the top 10 list (1994/1997).

In conclusion, I have tried to provide the most comprehensive, objective, and accurate dental school rankings available anywhere. I hope you will find it a useful guide.

Methodology: Each of the following were given equal weight:
1.) Overall GPA: Since GPA is very subjective by quality of undergraduate institution, potential grade inflation, etc. Therefore, schools were classified simply as having an A or B average. Science GPA was not included because it is already factored into overall GPA
2.) DAT
3.) PAT
4.) Last available "official" ranking (US News 1994 (republished 1997))
5.) Net Tuition for 4 years: To account for the one year gained by attending the three year UoP program, a modest $75,000 one year salary was assumed for that institution
6.) Facilities: Schools classified as below average, average, or above average based on feedback from SDN members. This includes the teaching of techniques such as digital radiography, digital charting, etc. that will be unavoidable in the dentistry of tomorrow. This is not based on "bells & whistles" but on things that will inevitably be necessary in the dentistry of the next 25 years.

And, the rankings!

RANK NAME SCORE
1 University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry 94.00
2 State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine 93.40
3 University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry 91.17
4 Louisiana State University School of Dentistry 90.60
5 University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry 89.67
6 State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine 89.33
7 University of Washington-Health Sciences School of Dentistry 89.17
7 University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery 89.17
9 University of Colorado Denver 88.80
10 Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry 87.60
11 University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine 87.40
12 University of Michigan School of Dentistry 87.33
12 University of North Carolina School of Dentistry 87.33
14 Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry 86.40
15 Harvard University School of Dental Medicine 86.00
16 University of Texas Hlth Science Cnt-San Antonio Dental School 85.67
17 University of Alabama School of Dentistry at UAB 85.17
18 University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry 84.80
19 University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine 84.40
20 Baylor College of Dentistry Component of Texas A & M Health Sci Ctr 83.80
21 University of Minnesota School of Dentistry 83.33
22 University of Southern California School of Dentistry 82.60
23 Ohio State University College of Dentistry 82.40
24 University of Iowa College of Dentistry 81.67
25 Univ. of Texas Hlth Science Cnt-Houston Dental Branch 81.60
26 Creighton University School of Dentistry 81.00
26 Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine 81.00
28 University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry 80.40
29 Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine 80.20
29 University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine 80.20
29 Columbia University College of Dental Medicine 80.20
32 Case Western Reserve Univ. School of Dental Medicine 80.00
33 University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Dental School 79.00
34 University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry 77.40
35 University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 77.20
36 Indiana University School of Dentistry 77.17
37 Marquette University School of Dentistry 77.00
38 University of Mississippi School of Dentistry 76.40
39 Tufts University School of Dental Medicine 76.20
39 University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 76.20
41 A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health 76.00
42 West Virginia University School of Dentistry 75.80
43 University of Florida College of Dentistry 75.40
44 Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine 74.20
44 Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry 74.20
46 University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry 73.00
47 University of Kentucky College of Dentistry 71.40
48 University of Louisville School of Dentistry 71.00
49 Temple University The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry 70.00
50 Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine 68.60
51 University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry 66.60
52 New York University College of Dentistry 62.80
53 Howard University College of Dentistry 58.40
54 Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry 57.40
 
This is a wonderful post or the most controversial thread ever. Either way,
:corny:I got my popcorn and I'm ready for an entertaining argument:corny:
 
Doc, it sounds like 'theroadshow' did this...

You claim to be objective, but you are far from that. If you really want to be objective, you would take into consideration some of the things below and let the individual decide about the subjective matters themselves... Here are a few specific qualms I hold with your methodology:
-Item 6 is very subjective: not only is it erroneous to take random opinions posted on SDN, but also, your bias and interpretation of said opinions will greatly influence your ranking.
- Not fair to account for that extra year that UoP gives you, since you get no summers at UoP (which is opportunity cost for having a job) and other schools do give you a few months of summer..
- Net tuition varies for In state and out of state... I'm not sure how you accounted for this. In this regard you are lacking transparency.
- I think you should include something about opportunities to specialize. If there is a way to get the percentage of those that get placed into a specialty and rank the schools in this regard - it is a pretty high evaluation tool.
- I don't agree with you disregarding GPA... True there may be grade inflation, but shouldn't the proportion of grades of students at all dental schools be inflated equally? So comparing across schools for GPA should be a fair method of evaluation...

I did like that you included the last 'official' rankings.
 
Dude...the ranking is all jacked anyways. Some of the schools have the same scores=same rank #, but then it skips when it goes to the next school....:eyebrow:
 
I wish this would have come out a few weeks earlier. I just decided to attend a school that is officially ranked 47th. Am I doomed to become a terrible clinician? I'm freaking out.
 
aguacero said:
I wish this would have come out a few weeks earlier. I just decided to attend a school that is officially ranked 47th. Am I doomed to become a terrible clinician? I'm freaking out.
Click to expand...

lol. this is not an official ranking. But if you did think that this was an official ranking, maybe you will be doomed to become a terrible clinician.....
 
I hope the OP would add the word "Official" in the title, just to make this thread even more controversial.

Btw, "Jimmy Choo" is not going to like your rankings. :laugh:
 
These rankings are pure bullshot. I feel sorry that you actually took the time to do this. WTF cares what the schools were ranked in 1994. That was 14 years ago!!!
 
lol based on fellow SDNers? Give me a break.
According to 95% of SDNers, their school should be #1. As such, the fact that you made StonyBrook number 2 makes these rankings bogus. :laugh:

I appreciate your hard work though. Must have taken alot of time to read every thread on SDN for feedback
 
this list is epic!!!

:laugh:




First off Stony Brook should be one place higher 👍


then the rest of the list is total crap :laugh:
 
Im sorry, but I find that list hilarious because the ONLY HBCU dental schools are ranked DEAD last! This is bogus, and that validates it! Try again "theroadshow"...
 
I don't think that the PAT should be given the same weight as the DAT. Just my opinion.
 
What about taking into account average board scores? These are, however, the most important tests we will be taking and are a measure of how well students are learning what they need to. Not to mention a major factor for getting into specialty programs. I interviewed at UNMC, and although I have not been accepted, I know that their classes have placed in the top 5 or 10 over the past several years.

I also agree with Contach in terms of the tuition in-state versus out-of-state. UNMC gives scholarships so that the out-of-staters pay in-state tuition. And yet they were given a 46 ranking?

I appreciate the work put into the rankings and I love reading these kinds of posts, just some things I think could be tweaked to make it more useful. I also think you should include Midwestern, the school I will probably be attending 🙂
 
Contach said:
Doc, it sounds like 'theroadshow' did this...

You claim to be objective, but you are far from that. If you really want to be objective, you would take into consideration some of the things below and let the individual decide about the subjective matters themselves... Here are a few specific qualms I hold with your methodology:
-Item 6 is very subjective: not only is it erroneous to take random opinions posted on SDN, but also, your bias and interpretation of said opinions will greatly influence your ranking.
- Not fair to account for that extra year that UoP gives you, since you get no summers at UoP (which is opportunity cost for having a job) and other schools do give you a few months of summer..
- Net tuition varies for In state and out of state... I'm not sure how you accounted for this. In this regard you are lacking transparency.
- I think you should include something about opportunities to specialize. If there is a way to get the percentage of those that get placed into a specialty and rank the schools in this regard - it is a pretty high evaluation tool.
- I don't agree with you disregarding GPA... True there may be grade inflation, but shouldn't the proportion of grades of students at all dental schools be inflated equally? So comparing across schools for GPA should be a fair method of evaluation...

I did like that you included the last 'official' rankings.
Click to expand...


This.
hence, choose your d-school based on location and price (tuitition and living).
 
Midwestern was left off, so how about just throwing it in as a tie for first...
 
I, for one, appreciate all the time spent (wasted) on putting this together for our entertainment.

Moral of the story, the best school is the one that accepts you!
 
Can't blame someone for trying, and at least they gave their methodology. That being said, I don't think tuition should play a factor at all. Who says that the more you pay the better the education? Every thread I've ever read on here concerning tuition is "Go the cheaper route, it's all the same!", so why is tuition a factor? Hell, LOWER tuition should make a school better.

Well, whatever, I guess I'll take going to a school right in the middle of the pack 23/53, we still have a kickass pedo program, haha.
 
JamesOSU said:
Can't blame someone for trying, and at least they gave their methodology. That being said, I don't think tuition should play a factor at all. Who says that the more you pay the better the education? Every thread I've ever read on here concerning tuition is "Go the cheaper route, it's all the same!", so why is tuition a factor? Hell, LOWER tuition should make a school better.

Well, whatever, I guess I'll take going to a school right in the middle of the pack 23/53, we still have a kickass pedo program, haha.
Click to expand...


I believe the OP did make a low tuition a rank raiser rather than a lowerer. You will notice many state schools in the top 15 or so for probably this reason.
 
JamesOSU said:
Can't blame someone for trying, and at least they gave their methodology. That being said, I don't think tuition should play a factor at all. Who says that the more you pay the better the education? Every thread I've ever read on here concerning tuition is "Go the cheaper route, it's all the same!", so why is tuition a factor? Hell, LOWER tuition should make a school better.

Well, whatever, I guess I'll take going to a school right in the middle of the pack 23/53, we still have a kickass pedo program, haha.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the schools with lower tuition were ranked higher. So yeah, he is agreeing with you that lower tuition = better school.. That is fair I think...
 
its nice that you actually include important things such as board scores, research funding, and gpa.....


oh wait.... you didnt.


this post is hilarious. omg. congratulations, you wasted your time.
 
theroadshow said:
5.) Net Tuition for 4 years: To account for the one year gained by attending the three year UoP program, a modest $75,000 one year salary was assumed for that institution
Click to expand...

Your rankings included tuition, and you graded UoP on a curve by giving them a salary?!?!?!
 
RAK1987 said:
its nice that you actually include important things such as board scores, research funding, and gpa.....


oh wait.... you didnt.


this post is hilarious. omg. congratulations, you wasted your time.
Click to expand...

so you're sayin the OP's "research" is useless. 😀
 
link517 said:
These rankings are pure bullshot. I feel sorry that you actually took the time to do this. WTF cares what the schools were ranked in 1994. That was 14 years ago!!!
Click to expand...

I'll defend this one for the OP.
Prestige follows history, and 14 years ago is history. If we can agree that 'name branding' of the school, or what people think is important in ranking the schools, then looking at the school ranks 14 years ago is important. Furthermore, if you can get over the decade of difference, it adds an independent reviewer which adds validity to his/her 'research.'
 
perhaps schools should be ranked on the disparity between the calibre of the candidate entering the school and the calibre of the same candidate that leaves the school.
so, if you compare the average accepted entering DATs, with the average board scores of each school, you should expect that those with the higher DATs would also have the higher board scores. However, the really good schools would be able to take those students with mediocre or low DATs and teach them well enough to do better than anticipated in board scores.
this would solve the problem of school that inflate grades (GPAs) on both the undergrad and dental school level.

As for judging clinical, maybe you should compare entering PAT with Part II Board scores (clinical skills).
 
Thanks for all the feedback. In general, it sounds like most responders agree with the methodology. I do agree that Part I board scores would be an excellent additional criterion. I searched long and heard for a list of these, but could not find them. If anyone knows of a source for Part I board scores, please share!
 
I'm probably just feeding a troll but just in case by chance I'm not, the few ppl who "agreed" with your methodology were mocking it. For one, as someone pointed out, either your calculations or weights per categorization are clearly off. Not to mention that tuition is never considered by US News or other ranking agencies because usually rankings are based on caliber of school, to which tuition has no bearing. This whole thread is only annoying because I feel bad for any ignorant pre-dental student coming to sdn for the first time and seeing some piece of wasted time like this, thinking it has value.
 
I personally dont think undergrad GPA and DAT scores for entering students should be a consideration when ranking a school. Those numbers are indicators of the quality of the undergraduate institutions. Dental schools should be ranked on board scores and the quality of the students coming out of their respective programs.
 
As the OP said, he knew this would be a controversial thread. That said, it is by far the most detailed dental school rankings I have yet seen. And it seems to hold it's water in terms of what are generally known to be the top schools to the dentists I have spoken to (forgetting ivy league cheerleaders who delude themselves into thinking that Penn and Columbia are anything above average).
 
Does anyone know how USC, the most expensive school in the country, is in 22nd, yet similarly large, expensive private schools (NYU, BU) are in the bottom 5?

This "comprehensive" dental school ranking has about as much validity as the ranking I'm about to make:

Number 1. Tufts
Tied for 54th. every other school
 
somethinpositiv said:
Does anyone know how USC, the most expensive school in the country, is in 22nd, yet similarly large, expensive private schools (NYU, BU) are in the bottom 5?

This "comprehensive" dental school ranking has about as much validity as the ranking I'm about to make:

Number 1. Tufts
Tied for 54th. every other school
Click to expand...
Obviously biased. Everyone knows UNLV is tied for 2nd with Meharry and Columiba.
 
Thanks for the great list. It will be a wonderful resource for hundreds, if not thousands, of predents.

Now, please create a similar list ranking all the dental specialty programs. We all know that some schools have a strong undergrad dental but weaknesses in certain specialty programs. It would really help the thousands of dental students that are applying to specialties if you could give us a good, solid, comprehensive list by specialty.

There's no deadline for this, but please make it relatively soon so that D-3's can have the best info at their disposal for this life-altering decision.

Thanks bro!
 
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