PathAfter dental school
In 2025, 7,015 students graduated from U.S. dental schools, and residencies had 3,782 first-year spots: 54 for every 100 graduates.
Graduates are growing faster than residencies
Since 2002, dental school graduates are up 61% (4,349 to 7,015), but first-year residency spots are up only 33% (2,838 to 3,782). In 2002 there were 65 spots for every 100 graduates; in 2025, 54.
Graduates and first-year residency spots
First-year spots by path
Foreign-trained dentists and dentists doing a second program fill some spots, so the share of new graduates who start a residency is lower than spots per graduate.
How competitive, how long, and who pays whom
Applications count every application, so one applicant applying to 20 programs counts 20 times. Stipend and tuition are first-year averages among programs that pay or charge them. Click a heading to sort.
| 1,002 | 164 | 10.5 | 1 yr (12–24 mo) | $71K 95% pay | $48K 13% charge | $185K (2025) | |
| 765 | 95 | 9.8 | 1 yr (12–24 mo) | $57K 65% pay | $45K 22% charge | $185K (2025) | |
| 515 | 88 | 16.8 | 2 yr (21–36 mo) | $62K 91% pay | $35K 39% charge | $245K (2025) | |
| 431 | 69 | 34.3 | 3 yr (24–36 mo) | $33K 45% pay | $56K 83% charge | $243K (2024) | |
| 285 | 103 | 38.9 | 4 yr (48–72 mo) | $67K 87% pay | $41K 27% charge | $445K (2022) | |
| 234 | 56 | 47 | 2 yr (24–36 mo) | $29K 36% pay | $54K 71% charge | $279K (2021) | |
| 193 | 57 | 24.8 | 3 yr (30–36 mo) | $30K 49% pay | $48K 79% charge | $296K (2024) | |
| 165 | 48 | 17.2 | 3 yr (34–36 mo) | $37K 54% pay | $53K 69% charge | $195K (2018) | |
| 35 | 14 | 15.8 | 2 yr | $58K 43% pay | $38K 64% charge | — | |
| 32 | 9 | 13.8 | 3 yr | $73K 100% pay | — 0% charge | — | |
| 28 | 16 | 5.9 | 1 yr (12–25 mo) | $47K 44% pay | $46K 56% charge | — | |
| 24 | 8 | 11.2 | 2 yr (24–36 mo) | $35K 100% pay | $20K 56% charge | — | |
| 20 | 13 | 6.4 | 3 yr (33–36 mo) | $50K 71% pay | $19K 50% charge | — | |
| 15 | 6 | 9.2 | 2 yr (24–36 mo) | $74K 67% pay | $98K 50% charge | — |
*Median net income in that field, from the ADA. Some specialty figures rest on small samples. See What dentists earn and where current residents went to dental school.
Explore a residency
General Practice Residency (GPR): 164 programs and 1,002 first-year spots in 2025-26 (down from 1,048 in 2011). 10,490 applications came in, 10.5 for every spot (9.3 in 2011). 95% of programs pay a stipend (avg $70,800), and 13% charge tuition (avg $48,024).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD): 95 programs and 765 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 688 in 2011). 7,477 applications came in, 9.8 for every spot (8.7 in 2011). 65% of programs pay a stipend (avg $56,872), and 22% charge tuition (avg $44,986).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Pediatric Dentistry: 88 programs and 515 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 403 in 2011). 8,645 applications came in, 16.8 for every spot (25.4 in 2011). 91% of programs pay a stipend (avg $62,305), and 39% charge tuition (avg $34,830).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Orthodontics: 69 programs and 431 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 366 in 2011). 14,766 applications came in, 34.3 for every spot (28 in 2011). 45% of programs pay a stipend (avg $33,390), and 83% charge tuition (avg $55,640).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: 103 programs and 285 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 241 in 2011). 11,095 applications came in, 38.9 for every spot (41.4 in 2011). 87% of programs pay a stipend (avg $66,596), and 27% charge tuition (avg $40,651).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Endodontics: 56 programs and 234 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 207 in 2011). 10,987 applications came in, 47 for every spot (15.4 in 2011). 36% of programs pay a stipend (avg $29,187), and 71% charge tuition (avg $53,817).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Periodontics: 57 programs and 193 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 182 in 2011). 4,779 applications came in, 24.8 for every spot (10.9 in 2011). 49% of programs pay a stipend (avg $30,131), and 79% charge tuition (avg $48,280).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Prosthodontics: 48 programs and 165 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 151 in 2011). 2,839 applications came in, 17.2 for every spot (12 in 2011). 54% of programs pay a stipend (avg $37,190), and 69% charge tuition (avg $52,527).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Orofacial Pain: 14 programs and 35 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 8 in 2012). 554 applications came in, 15.8 for every spot (2.8 in 2012). 43% of programs pay a stipend (avg $58,254), and 64% charge tuition (avg $37,924).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Dental Anesthesiology: 9 programs and 32 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 21 in 2011). 442 applications came in, 13.8 for every spot (8.7 in 2011). 100% of programs pay a stipend (avg $73,085), and 0% charge tuition.
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Dental Public Health: 16 programs and 28 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 25 in 2011). 165 applications came in, 5.9 for every spot (4.3 in 2011). 44% of programs pay a stipend (avg $47,277), and 56% charge tuition (avg $46,423).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: 8 programs and 24 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 11 in 2011). 270 applications came in, 11.2 for every spot (6 in 2011). 100% of programs pay a stipend (avg $35,392), and 56% charge tuition (avg $19,992).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: 13 programs and 20 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 18 in 2011). 128 applications came in, 6.4 for every spot (4.7 in 2011). 71% of programs pay a stipend (avg $50,042), and 50% charge tuition (avg $18,866).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Oral Medicine: 6 programs and 15 first-year spots in 2025-26 (up from 11 in 2011). 138 applications came in, 9.2 for every spot (10.7 in 2011). 67% of programs pay a stipend (avg $73,895), and 50% charge tuition (avg $98,336).
Applications per first-year spot
Average first-year stipend vs. tuition
Stipend and tuition by program start in 2012. Dollars are not adjusted for inflation.
Find a residency program
Search all 753 accredited GPR, AEGD and specialty programs for applications, first-year spots, and first-year stipend and tuition. Choose a residency or state, or type a school or hospital.
Choose a residency or state, or type a school or hospital, to see programs.
First-year amounts. "—" = not reported. Many military and VA programs pay through a service salary instead of a stipend.
Source: ADA. Analysis: Dr. Charley Levy, Path32.