NC · FIPS 37 · South · State

North Carolina

62% stayed home, and residents fill 82% of North Carolina's seats.

999

students started dental school

#9 of 52 in the nation

60%

stayed in-state

594 students

405

left for another state

#10 most leavers

different schools attended

across 33 states

Destinations

Where North Carolina's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In North CarolinaOut of state

University of North CarolinaNC · Public
29129.1%
East Carolina UniversityNC · Public
26726.7%
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
444.4%
High Point UniversityNC · Private
363.6%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
282.8%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
252.5%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
242.4%
New York UniversityNY · Private
212.1%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private
202.0%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
191.9%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2021 to 2025, 999 students from North Carolina started dental school, 9th in the nation. 60% stayed in North Carolina, 56% at an in-state public school.

The 405 who left went to 32 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Virginia Commonwealth University (VA), with 44 students.

North Carolina's dental schools enrolled 770 students over the same years, 77% of them residents. Georgia (22) and Florida (20) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in North Carolina for dental school60%

Went to an in-state public school56%

Seats at North Carolina's schools filled by residents77%

Inbound

Who else comes here

North Carolina's 3 dental schools enrolled 770 students; 77% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in North Carolina

East Carolina UniversityPublic267 from NC
High Point UniversityPrivate36 from NC
University of North CarolinaPublic291 from NC

All 58 schools North Carolina students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	291	29.1%
East Carolina University	NC	Public	267	26.7%
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	44	4.4%
High Point University	NC	Private	36	3.6%
Howard University	DC	Private	28	2.8%
Tufts University	MA	Private	25	2.5%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	24	2.4%
New York University	NY	Private	21	2.1%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	20	2.0%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	19	1.9%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	17	1.7%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	15	1.5%
Temple University	PA	Public	14	1.4%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	13	1.3%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	10	1.0%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	9	0.9%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	9	0.9%
University of New England	ME	Private	8	0.8%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	7	0.7%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	7	0.7%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	6	0.6%
Boston University	MA	Private	6	0.6%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	6	0.6%
Augusta University	GA	Public	5	0.5%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	5	0.5%
Creighton University	NE	Private	5	0.5%
Harvard University	MA	Private	5	0.5%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	5	0.5%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	5	0.5%
Indiana University	IN	Public	4	0.4%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	0.4%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	4	0.4%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	4	0.4%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	4	0.4%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	4	0.4%
University of Florida	FL	Public	4	0.4%
Columbia University	NY	Private	3	0.3%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	3	0.3%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	3	0.3%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	2	0.2%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	2	0.2%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	2	0.2%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	2	0.2%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	2	0.2%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	2	0.2%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	2	0.2%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	2	0.2%
University of Utah	UT	Public	2	0.2%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	2	0.2%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	2	0.2%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	1	0.1%
Marquette University	WI	Private	1	0.1%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	1	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	1	0.1%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	1	0.1%
University of Missouri, Kansas City	MO	Public	1	0.1%
University of Nebraska Medical Center	NE	Public	1	0.1%
University of Washington	WA	Public	1	0.1%

1,926

students started dental school

#9 of 52 in the nation

62%

stayed in-state

1,189 students

737

left for another state

#10 most leavers

different schools attended

across 34 states

Destinations

Where North Carolina's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In North CarolinaOut of state

University of North CarolinaNC · Public
62532.5%
East Carolina UniversityNC · Public
52827.4%
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
673.5%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
452.3%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
442.3%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
422.2%
High Point UniversityNC · Private
361.9%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
351.8%
Medical University of South CarolinaSC · Public
341.8%
New York UniversityNY · Private
321.7%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2016 to 2025, 1,926 students from North Carolina started dental school, 9th in the nation. 62% stayed in North Carolina, 60% at an in-state public school.

The 737 who left went to 33 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Virginia Commonwealth University (VA), with 67 students.

North Carolina's dental schools enrolled 1,444 students over the same years, 82% of them residents. Florida (39) and Georgia (28) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in North Carolina for dental school62%

Went to an in-state public school60%

Seats at North Carolina's schools filled by residents82%

Inbound

Who else comes here

North Carolina's 3 dental schools enrolled 1,444 students; 82% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in North Carolina

East Carolina UniversityPublic528 from NC
High Point UniversityPrivate36 from NC
University of North CarolinaPublic625 from NC

All 63 schools North Carolina students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	625	32.5%
East Carolina University	NC	Public	528	27.4%
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	67	3.5%
Howard University	DC	Private	45	2.3%
Tufts University	MA	Private	44	2.3%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	42	2.2%
High Point University	NC	Private	36	1.9%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	35	1.8%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	34	1.8%
New York University	NY	Private	32	1.7%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	28	1.5%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	23	1.2%
Temple University	PA	Public	23	1.2%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	23	1.2%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	20	1.0%
Boston University	MA	Private	19	1.0%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	19	1.0%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	17	0.9%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	17	0.9%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	15	0.8%
University of New England	ME	Private	15	0.8%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	13	0.7%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	13	0.7%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	13	0.7%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	12	0.6%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	12	0.6%
Columbia University	NY	Private	11	0.6%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	11	0.6%
Augusta University	GA	Public	10	0.5%
Creighton University	NE	Private	8	0.4%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	8	0.4%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	8	0.4%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	7	0.4%
Indiana University	IN	Public	7	0.4%
University of Florida	FL	Public	7	0.4%
Harvard University	MA	Private	6	0.3%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	6	0.3%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	5	0.3%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	5	0.3%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	0.2%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	4	0.2%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	4	0.2%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	4	0.2%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	4	0.2%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	3	0.2%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	3	0.2%
University of California, San Francisco	CA	Public	3	0.2%
University of Missouri, Kansas City	MO	Public	3	0.2%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	3	0.2%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	3	0.2%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	2	0.1%
Marquette University	WI	Private	2	0.1%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	2	0.1%
University of Nebraska Medical Center	NE	Public	2	0.1%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	2	0.1%
University of Utah	UT	Public	2	0.1%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	1	0.1%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	1	0.1%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	1	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	1	0.1%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	1	0.1%
University of Illinois Chicago	IL	Public	1	0.1%
University of Washington	WA	Public	1	0.1%

4,015

students started dental school

#9 of 52 in the nation

60%

stayed in-state

2,418 students

1,597

left for another state

#12 most leavers

different schools attended

across 36 states

Destinations

Where North Carolina's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In North CarolinaOut of state

University of North CarolinaNC · Public
1,59239.7%
East Carolina UniversityNC · Public
79019.7%
University at BuffaloNY · Public
1594.0%
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
1213.0%
Meharry Medical CollegeTN · Private
972.4%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
942.3%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
912.3%
University of MarylandMD · Public
912.3%
New York UniversityNY · Private
741.8%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
681.7%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2000 to 2025, 4,015 students from North Carolina started dental school, 9th in the nation. 60% stayed in North Carolina, 59% at an in-state public school.

The 1,597 who left went to 35 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was University at Buffalo (NY), with 159 students.

North Carolina's dental schools enrolled 3,010 students over the same years, 80% of them residents. Florida (66) and Utah (59) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in North Carolina for dental school60%

Went to an in-state public school59%

Seats at North Carolina's schools filled by residents80%

Inbound

Who else comes here

North Carolina's 3 dental schools enrolled 3,010 students; 80% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in North Carolina

East Carolina UniversityPublic790 from NC
High Point UniversityPrivate36 from NC
University of North CarolinaPublic1,592 from NC

All 65 schools North Carolina students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	1,592	39.7%
East Carolina University	NC	Public	790	19.7%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	159	4.0%
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	121	3.0%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	97	2.4%
Tufts University	MA	Private	94	2.3%
Howard University	DC	Private	91	2.3%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	91	2.3%
New York University	NY	Private	74	1.8%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	68	1.7%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	49	1.2%
Temple University	PA	Public	45	1.1%
Boston University	MA	Private	44	1.1%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	43	1.1%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	39	1.0%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	37	0.9%
High Point University	NC	Private	36	0.9%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	35	0.9%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	34	0.8%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	28	0.7%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	28	0.7%
Columbia University	NY	Private	27	0.7%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	25	0.6%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	24	0.6%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	24	0.6%
Indiana University	IN	Public	21	0.5%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	20	0.5%
University of Florida	FL	Public	20	0.5%
University of New England	ME	Private	18	0.4%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	17	0.4%
Harvard University	MA	Private	17	0.4%
Augusta University	GA	Public	16	0.4%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	16	0.4%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	16	0.4%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	13	0.3%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	11	0.3%
Creighton University	NE	Private	10	0.2%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	10	0.2%
Marquette University	WI	Private	9	0.2%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	9	0.2%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	9	0.2%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	8	0.2%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	8	0.2%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	7	0.2%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	6	0.1%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	6	0.1%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	5	0.1%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	4	0.1%
LSU Health Sciences Center	LA	Public	4	0.1%
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine	AR	Private	4	0.1%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	4	0.1%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	4	0.1%
University of Missouri, Kansas City	MO	Public	4	0.1%
University of California, San Francisco	CA	Public	3	0.1%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	3	0.1%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	3	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	2	0.0%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	2	0.0%
University of Illinois Chicago	IL	Public	2	0.0%
University of Nebraska Medical Center	NE	Public	2	0.0%
University of Utah	UT	Public	2	0.0%
University of Washington	WA	Public	2	0.0%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	1	0.0%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	1	0.0%
University of Puerto Rico	PR	Public	1	0.0%

Staying home, 2000–2025

Are more North Carolina students staying in-state?

In the last five years, 60% of North Carolina's first-year dental students stayed in-state, down from 65% in 2000–2004. Nationally, 57% stayed home in 2025, down from 66% in 2000.

Share of first-year students who stayed in-state

North CarolinaU.S.

Dentist workforce, 2001–2025

Dentists working in North Carolina

6,557 dentists work in North Carolina: 58.6 per 100,000 people, below the U.S. rate of 60.0. That's #18 of 51 for dentists per person. The number of dentists is up 91% since 2001.

6,557dentists, 2025

58.6per 100,000 people (U.S. 60.0)

#18of 51 in dentists per person

3,441dentists in 2001 (41.9 per 100K)

Dentists per 100,000 people

North CarolinaU.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 North Carolina?

North Carolina gained a net 224 dentists from other states from 2019 to 2024 (+4.6% of its 2019 dentists), #10 of 51. The state's overall population changed by +4.5% from domestic migration (2020–2025).

All dentists+4.6%+224 net · #10 of 51611 moved in, 387 moved out

Early career (under 10 yrs)+8.3%+135 net · #10 of 51406 moved in, 271 moved out

10+ years in practice+2.7%+89 net · #8 of 51205 moved in, 116 moved out

Early-career specialists+13.5%+28 net · #8 of 5161 moved in, 33 moved out

Net dentists North Carolina 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

Florida50
Pennsylvania49
Virginia44
South Carolina40
New York37

Moved to

South Carolina45
Virginia37
Georgia31
Florida29
Texas25

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

What dentists earn in North Carolina →