AL · FIPS 01 · South · State

Alabama

70% stayed home, and residents fill 73% of Alabama's seats.

415

students started dental school

#24 of 52 in the nation

74%

stayed in-state

306 students

109

left for another state

#31 most leavers

different schools attended

across 26 states

Destinations

Where Alabama's students went

Matriculants from Alabama by the state of their dental school, 2021–2025. Hover a state for the count.

Alabama (stayed home)1–4 students5–19 students20–49 students50–199 students200+ studentsNone

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In AlabamaOut of state

University of AlabamaAL · Public
30673.7%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
174.1%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
102.4%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private
92.2%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
71.7%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
61.4%
Kansas City UniversityMO · Private
41.0%
University of KentuckyKY · Public
41.0%
University of TennesseeTN · Public
41.0%
LECOM College of Dental MedicineFL · Private
30.7%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2021 to 2025, 415 students from Alabama started dental school, 24th in the nation. 74% stayed in Alabama, all of them at public schools.

The 109 who left went to 25 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Meharry Medical College (TN), with 17 students.

Alabama's dental school enrolled 418 students over the same years, 73% of them residents. Georgia (32) and Florida (28) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Alabama for dental school74%

Went to an in-state public school74%

Seats at Alabama's schools filled by residents73%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Alabama's dental school enrolled 418 students; 73% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Alabama

University of AlabamaPublic306 from AL

All 39 schools Alabama students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of Alabama	AL	Public	306	73.7%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	17	4.1%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	10	2.4%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	9	2.2%
Howard University	DC	Private	7	1.7%
Tufts University	MA	Private	6	1.4%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	1.0%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	4	1.0%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	4	1.0%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	3	0.7%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	3	0.7%
New York University	NY	Private	3	0.7%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	3	0.7%
Boston University	MA	Private	2	0.5%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	2	0.5%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	2	0.5%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	2	0.5%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	2	0.5%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	2	0.5%
University of Florida	FL	Public	2	0.5%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	2	0.5%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	2	0.5%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	2	0.5%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	1	0.2%
Columbia University	NY	Private	1	0.2%
Creighton University	NE	Private	1	0.2%
Harvard University	MA	Private	1	0.2%
High Point University	NC	Private	1	0.2%
Indiana University	IN	Public	1	0.2%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	1	0.2%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	1	0.2%
Northeast Ohio Medical University	OH	Public	1	0.2%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	1	0.2%
Temple University	PA	Public	1	0.2%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	1	0.2%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	1	0.2%
University of New England	ME	Private	1	0.2%
University of Oklahoma	OK	Public	1	0.2%
University of Texas at Houston	TX	Public	1	0.2%

758

students started dental school

#27 of 52 in the nation

70%

stayed in-state

532 students

226

left for another state

#29 most leavers

different schools attended

across 32 states

Destinations

Where Alabama's students went

Matriculants from Alabama by the state of their dental school, 2016–2025. Hover a state for the count.

Alabama (stayed home)1–4 students5–19 students20–49 students50–199 students200+ studentsNone

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In AlabamaOut of state

University of AlabamaAL · Public
53270.2%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
293.8%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
253.3%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
172.2%
LECOM College of Dental MedicineFL · Private
121.6%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
111.5%
University of TennesseeTN · Public
111.5%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private
91.2%
New York UniversityNY · Private
81.1%
University of KentuckyKY · Public
81.1%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2016 to 2025, 758 students from Alabama started dental school, 27th in the nation. 70% stayed in Alabama, all of them at public schools.

The 226 who left went to 31 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Meharry Medical College (TN), with 29 students.

Alabama's dental school enrolled 730 students over the same years, 73% of them residents. Florida (70) and Georgia (50) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Alabama for dental school70%

Went to an in-state public school70%

Seats at Alabama's schools filled by residents73%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Alabama's dental school enrolled 730 students; 73% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Alabama

University of AlabamaPublic532 from AL

All 51 schools Alabama students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of Alabama	AL	Public	532	70.2%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	29	3.8%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	25	3.3%
Tufts University	MA	Private	17	2.2%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	12	1.6%
Howard University	DC	Private	11	1.5%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	11	1.5%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	9	1.2%
New York University	NY	Private	8	1.1%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	8	1.1%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	7	0.9%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	5	0.7%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	5	0.7%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	5	0.7%
Boston University	MA	Private	4	0.5%
Indiana University	IN	Public	4	0.5%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	0.5%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	4	0.5%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	4	0.5%
Harvard University	MA	Private	3	0.4%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	3	0.4%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	3	0.4%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	3	0.4%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	2	0.3%
Augusta University	GA	Public	2	0.3%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	2	0.3%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	2	0.3%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	2	0.3%
Marquette University	WI	Private	2	0.3%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	2	0.3%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	2	0.3%
University of Florida	FL	Public	2	0.3%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	2	0.3%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	2	0.3%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	2	0.3%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	2	0.3%
University of Texas at Houston	TX	Public	2	0.3%
Columbia University	NY	Private	1	0.1%
Creighton University	NE	Private	1	0.1%
High Point University	NC	Private	1	0.1%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	1	0.1%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	1	0.1%
Northeast Ohio Medical University	OH	Public	1	0.1%
Temple University	PA	Public	1	0.1%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	1	0.1%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	1	0.1%
University of New England	ME	Private	1	0.1%
University of Oklahoma	OK	Public	1	0.1%
University of Puerto Rico	PR	Public	1	0.1%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	1	0.1%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	1	0.1%

1,747

students started dental school

#28 of 52 in the nation

75%

stayed in-state

1,306 students

441

left for another state

#34 most leavers

different schools attended

across 34 states

Destinations

Where Alabama's students went

Matriculants from Alabama by the state of their dental school, 2000–2025. Hover a state for the count.

Alabama (stayed home)1–4 students5–19 students20–49 students50–199 students200+ studentsNone

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In AlabamaOut of state

University of AlabamaAL · Public
1,30674.8%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
854.9%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
472.7%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
281.6%
University of TennesseeTN · Public
231.3%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
221.3%
LECOM College of Dental MedicineFL · Private
211.2%
New York UniversityNY · Private
120.7%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private
90.5%
Midwestern University - ILIL · Private
90.5%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2000 to 2025, 1,747 students from Alabama started dental school, 28th in the nation. 75% stayed in Alabama, all of them at public schools.

The 441 who left went to 33 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Meharry Medical College (TN), with 85 students.

Alabama's dental school enrolled 1,640 students over the same years, 80% of them residents. Florida (99) and Georgia (94) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Alabama for dental school75%

Went to an in-state public school75%

Seats at Alabama's schools filled by residents80%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Alabama's dental school enrolled 1,640 students; 80% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Alabama

University of AlabamaPublic1,306 from AL

All 56 schools Alabama students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of Alabama	AL	Public	1,306	74.8%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	85	4.9%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	47	2.7%
Tufts University	MA	Private	28	1.6%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	23	1.3%
Howard University	DC	Private	22	1.3%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	21	1.2%
New York University	NY	Private	12	0.7%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	9	0.5%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	9	0.5%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	9	0.5%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	9	0.5%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	8	0.5%
Boston University	MA	Private	8	0.5%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	8	0.5%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	8	0.5%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	7	0.4%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	7	0.4%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	7	0.4%
University of Florida	FL	Public	7	0.4%
Indiana University	IN	Public	6	0.3%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	6	0.3%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	6	0.3%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	6	0.3%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	6	0.3%
Temple University	PA	Public	5	0.3%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	5	0.3%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	5	0.3%
Creighton University	NE	Private	4	0.2%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	4	0.2%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	0.2%
Marquette University	WI	Private	4	0.2%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	4	0.2%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	4	0.2%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	4	0.2%
Augusta University	GA	Public	3	0.2%
Harvard University	MA	Private	3	0.2%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	2	0.1%
Columbia University	NY	Private	2	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	2	0.1%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	2	0.1%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	2	0.1%
University of Oklahoma	OK	Public	2	0.1%
University of Texas at Houston	TX	Public	2	0.1%
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	2	0.1%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	2	0.1%
High Point University	NC	Private	1	0.1%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	1	0.1%
Northeast Ohio Medical University	OH	Public	1	0.1%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	1	0.1%
Stony Brook University	NY	Public	1	0.1%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	1	0.1%
University of Missouri, Kansas City	MO	Public	1	0.1%
University of New England	ME	Private	1	0.1%
University of Puerto Rico	PR	Public	1	0.1%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	1	0.1%

Staying home, 2000–2025

Are more Alabama students staying in-state?

In the last five years, 74% of Alabama's first-year dental students stayed in-state, down from 82% in 2000–2004. Nationally, 57% stayed home in 2025, down from 66% in 2000.

Share of first-year students who stayed in-state

AlabamaU.S.

Dentist workforce, 2001–2025

Dentists working in Alabama

2,109 dentists work in Alabama: 40.6 per 100,000 people, below the U.S. rate of 60.0. That's #51 of 51 for dentists per person. The number of dentists is up 12% since 2001.

2,109dentists, 2025

40.6per 100,000 people (U.S. 60.0)

#51of 51 in dentists per person

1,889dentists in 2001 (42.3 per 100K)

Dentists per 100,000 people

AlabamaU.S.

Dentists working in dentistry, counted where they work. *The ADA advises caution with 2023–2025 figures. Source: ADA.

Dentist migration, 2019–2024

Are dentists moving to Alabama?

Alabama gained a net 3 dentists from other states from 2019 to 2024 (+0.2% of its 2019 dentists), #24 of 51. The state's overall population changed by +2.6% from domestic migration (2020–2025).

All dentists+0.2%+3 net · #24 of 51125 moved in, 122 moved out

Early career (under 10 yrs)−2.4%−12 net · #30 of 5179 moved in, 91 moved out

10+ years in practice+1.2%+15 net · #15 of 5146 moved in, 31 moved out

Early-career specialists+1.4%+1 net · #24 of 5111 moved in, 10 moved out

Net dentists Alabama gained from / lost to each state:+15 or more+5 to 14+1 to 4−1 to 4−5 to 14−15 or more

Came from

Mississippi12
Texas10
Georgia9
Missouri7
Tennessee7

Moved to

Georgia17
Tennessee17
Florida15
Texas13
North Carolina8

Dentists active in both 2019 and 2024, so new graduates and retirees are not counted. Source: ADA.

What dentists earn in Alabama →