VA · FIPS 51 · South · State

Virginia

35% stayed home, and residents fill 67% of Virginia's seats.

901

students started dental school

#12 of 52 in the nation

34%

stayed in-state

307 students

594

left for another state

#8 most leavers

different schools attended

across 33 states

Destinations

Where Virginia's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In VirginiaOut of state

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
30734.1%
University of MarylandMD · Public
546.0%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
475.2%
University of PennsylvaniaPA · Private
414.6%
New York UniversityNY · Private
384.2%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
353.9%
Lincoln Memorial UniversityTN · Private
343.8%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
273.0%
Temple UniversityPA · Public
252.8%
Touro College of Dental MedicineNY · Private
232.6%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2021 to 2025, 901 students from Virginia started dental school, 12th in the nation. 34% stayed in Virginia, all of them at public schools.

The 594 who left went to 32 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was University of Maryland (MD), with 54 students.

Virginia's dental school enrolled 451 students over the same years, 68% of them residents. North Carolina (44) and Florida (26) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Virginia for dental school34%

Went to an in-state public school34%

Seats at Virginia's schools filled by residents68%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Virginia's dental school enrolled 451 students; 68% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPublic307 from VA

All 56 schools Virginia students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	307	34.1%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	54	6.0%
Howard University	DC	Private	47	5.2%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	41	4.6%
New York University	NY	Private	38	4.2%
Tufts University	MA	Private	35	3.9%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	34	3.8%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	27	3.0%
Temple University	PA	Public	25	2.8%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	23	2.6%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	20	2.2%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	20	2.2%
Boston University	MA	Private	16	1.8%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	14	1.6%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	12	1.3%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	12	1.3%
University of New England	ME	Private	12	1.3%
Columbia University	NY	Private	11	1.2%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	10	1.1%
Harvard University	MA	Private	9	1.0%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	9	1.0%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	8	0.9%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	8	0.9%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	7	0.8%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	7	0.8%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	7	0.8%
High Point University	NC	Private	6	0.7%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	6	0.7%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	6	0.7%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	6	0.7%
Indiana University	IN	Public	5	0.6%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	5	0.6%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	5	0.6%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	4	0.4%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	4	0.4%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	4	0.4%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	3	0.3%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	3	0.3%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	3	0.3%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	3	0.3%
Creighton University	NE	Private	2	0.2%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	2	0.2%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	2	0.2%
Oregon Health & Science University	OR	Public	2	0.2%
Universidad Ana G. Mendez	PR	Private	2	0.2%
University of California, San Francisco	CA	Public	2	0.2%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	2	0.2%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	2	0.2%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	2	0.2%
Augusta University	GA	Public	1	0.1%
Marquette University	WI	Private	1	0.1%
Stony Brook University	NY	Public	1	0.1%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	1	0.1%
University of Florida	FL	Public	1	0.1%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	1	0.1%
University of Washington	WA	Public	1	0.1%

1,753

students started dental school

#12 of 52 in the nation

35%

stayed in-state

613 students

1,140

left for another state

#8 most leavers

different schools attended

across 34 states

Destinations

Where Virginia's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In VirginiaOut of state

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
61335.0%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
1176.7%
University of MarylandMD · Public
1166.6%
New York UniversityNY · Private
804.6%
University of PennsylvaniaPA · Private
754.3%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
653.7%
Temple UniversityPA · Public
482.7%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
412.3%
Midwestern University - ILIL · Private
402.3%
Touro College of Dental MedicineNY · Private
392.2%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2016 to 2025, 1,753 students from Virginia started dental school, 12th in the nation. 35% stayed in Virginia, all of them at public schools.

The 1,140 who left went to 33 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Howard University (DC), with 117 students.

Virginia's dental school enrolled 914 students over the same years, 67% of them residents. North Carolina (67) and Florida (63) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Virginia for dental school35%

Went to an in-state public school35%

Seats at Virginia's schools filled by residents67%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Virginia's dental school enrolled 914 students; 67% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPublic613 from VA

All 63 schools Virginia students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	613	35.0%
Howard University	DC	Private	117	6.7%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	116	6.6%
New York University	NY	Private	80	4.6%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	75	4.3%
Tufts University	MA	Private	65	3.7%
Temple University	PA	Public	48	2.7%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	41	2.3%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	40	2.3%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	39	2.2%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	34	1.9%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	34	1.9%
Boston University	MA	Private	30	1.7%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	30	1.7%
University of New England	ME	Private	26	1.5%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	25	1.4%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	22	1.3%
Columbia University	NY	Private	20	1.1%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	17	1.0%
Harvard University	MA	Private	16	0.9%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	16	0.9%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	16	0.9%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	14	0.8%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	14	0.8%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	14	0.8%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	14	0.8%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	13	0.7%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	12	0.7%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	12	0.7%
Indiana University	IN	Public	11	0.6%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	10	0.6%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	9	0.5%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	8	0.5%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	7	0.4%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	7	0.4%
Creighton University	NE	Private	6	0.3%
High Point University	NC	Private	6	0.3%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	6	0.3%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	6	0.3%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	6	0.3%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	5	0.3%
Oregon Health & Science University	OR	Public	5	0.3%
University of California, San Francisco	CA	Public	5	0.3%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	5	0.3%
Marquette University	WI	Private	4	0.2%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	4	0.2%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	3	0.2%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	3	0.2%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	3	0.2%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	2	0.1%
Stony Brook University	NY	Public	2	0.1%
Universidad Ana G. Mendez	PR	Private	2	0.1%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	2	0.1%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	2	0.1%
University of Texas at Houston	TX	Public	2	0.1%
University of Washington	WA	Public	2	0.1%
Augusta University	GA	Public	1	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	1	0.1%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	1	0.1%
University of Florida	FL	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 Utah	UT	Public	1	0.1%

3,623

students started dental school

#12 of 52 in the nation

43%

stayed in-state

1,553 students

2,070

left for another state

#8 most leavers

different schools attended

across 36 states

Destinations

Where Virginia's students went

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

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

Top 10 schools

The most common picks

In VirginiaOut of state

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Public
1,55342.9%
Howard UniversityDC · Private
2627.2%
University of MarylandMD · Public
2296.3%
New York UniversityNY · Private
1704.7%
University of PennsylvaniaPA · Private
1464.0%
Tufts UniversityMA · Private
1333.7%
Temple UniversityPA · Public
1032.8%
University of LouisvilleKY · Public
571.6%
West Virginia UniversityWV · Public
551.5%
Boston UniversityMA · Private
521.4%

The story

What the numbers say

From 2000 to 2025, 3,623 students from Virginia started dental school, 12th in the nation. 43% stayed in Virginia, all of them at public schools.

The 2,070 who left went to 35 other states. The most popular out-of-state school was Howard University (DC), with 262 students.

Virginia's dental school enrolled 2,327 students over the same years, 67% of them residents. Utah (170) and North Carolina (121) sent the most outsiders.

Stayed in Virginia for dental school43%

Went to an in-state public school43%

Seats at Virginia's schools filled by residents67%

Inbound

Who else comes here

Virginia's dental school enrolled 2,327 students; 67% were residents. Top out-of-state feeders:

Home schools

Dental schools in Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPublic1,553 from VA

All 65 schools Virginia students attended

School	State	Type	Students	Share
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA	Public	1,553	42.9%
Howard University	DC	Private	262	7.2%
University of Maryland	MD	Public	229	6.3%
New York University	NY	Private	170	4.7%
University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	146	4.0%
Tufts University	MA	Private	133	3.7%
Temple University	PA	Public	103	2.8%
University of Louisville	KY	Public	57	1.6%
West Virginia University	WV	Public	55	1.5%
Boston University	MA	Private	52	1.4%
Columbia University	NY	Private	50	1.4%
Midwestern University - IL	IL	Private	50	1.4%
University of Pittsburgh	PA	Public	46	1.3%
LECOM College of Dental Medicine	FL	Private	44	1.2%
Touro College of Dental Medicine	NY	Private	39	1.1%
University of North Carolina	NC	Public	38	1.0%
Meharry Medical College	TN	Private	37	1.0%
Case Western Reserve University	OH	Private	35	1.0%
University of New England	ME	Private	35	1.0%
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Private	34	0.9%
Nova Southeastern University	FL	Private	33	0.9%
Harvard University	MA	Private	25	0.7%
Medical University of South Carolina	SC	Public	25	0.7%
Midwestern University - AZ	AZ	Private	25	0.7%
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health	AZ	Private	24	0.7%
University of Detroit Mercy	MI	Private	24	0.7%
University of Michigan	MI	Public	22	0.6%
Roseman University of Health Sciences	UT	Private	21	0.6%
University of Kentucky	KY	Public	21	0.6%
Indiana University	IN	Public	18	0.5%
University at Buffalo	NY	Public	15	0.4%
Western University of Health Sciences	CA	Private	15	0.4%
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC	CA	Private	14	0.4%
Ohio State University	OH	Public	14	0.4%
University of California, Los Angeles	CA	Public	12	0.3%
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine	NJ	Public	11	0.3%
Loma Linda University	CA	Private	10	0.3%
University of California, San Francisco	CA	Public	9	0.2%
University of Minnesota	MN	Public	9	0.2%
University of the Pacific	CA	Private	8	0.2%
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health	MO	Private	7	0.2%
Oregon Health & Science University	OR	Public	7	0.2%
University of Colorado	CO	Public	7	0.2%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	NV	Public	7	0.2%
Creighton University	NE	Private	6	0.2%
High Point University	NC	Private	6	0.2%
Stony Brook University	NY	Public	5	0.1%
University of Connecticut	CT	Public	5	0.1%
University of Iowa	IA	Public	5	0.1%
University of Tennessee	TN	Public	5	0.1%
University of Washington	WA	Public	5	0.1%
Marquette University	WI	Private	4	0.1%
Augusta University	GA	Public	3	0.1%
California Northstate University	CA	Private	3	0.1%
University of Alabama	AL	Public	3	0.1%
University of Florida	FL	Public	3	0.1%
University of Oklahoma	OK	Public	3	0.1%
University of Texas at Houston	TX	Public	3	0.1%
Kansas City University	MO	Private	2	0.1%
Texas A&M University	TX	Public	2	0.1%
UT Health San Antonio	TX	Public	2	0.1%
Universidad Ana G. Mendez	PR	Private	2	0.1%
University of Missouri, Kansas City	MO	Public	2	0.1%
University of Nebraska Medical Center	NE	Public	2	0.1%
University of Utah	UT	Public	1	0.0%

Staying home, 2000–2025

Are more Virginia students staying in-state?

In the last five years, 34% of Virginia's first-year dental students stayed in-state, down from 60% in 2000–2004. Nationally, 57% stayed home in 2025, down from 66% in 2000.

Share of first-year students who stayed in-state

VirginiaU.S.

Dentist workforce, 2001–2025

Dentists working in Virginia

5,792 dentists work in Virginia: 65.2 per 100,000 people, above the U.S. rate of 60.0. That's #14 of 51 for dentists per person. The number of dentists is up 41% since 2001.

5,792dentists, 2025

65.2per 100,000 people (U.S. 60.0)

#14of 51 in dentists per person

4,103dentists in 2001 (57.0 per 100K)

Dentists per 100,000 people

VirginiaU.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 Virginia?

Virginia gained a net 78 dentists from other states from 2019 to 2024 (+1.7% of its 2019 dentists), #17 of 51. The state's overall population changed by −0.3% from domestic migration (2020–2025).

All dentists+1.7%+78 net · #17 of 51515 moved in, 437 moved out

Early career (under 10 yrs)+6.5%+89 net · #12 of 51364 moved in, 275 moved out

10+ years in practice−0.3%−11 net · #33 of 51151 moved in, 162 moved out

Early-career specialists−1.8%−4 net · #29 of 5148 moved in, 52 moved out

Net dentists Virginia 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

Maryland48
Texas45
District of Columbia39
New York39
North Carolina37

Moved to

Maryland46
North Carolina44
Texas43
California42
Florida42

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

What dentists earn in Virginia →