Dentistry: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 51.04. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 103 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Associate's degree | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 3 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | $40,528 1 programs |
| Master's degree | 5 | 0 | $244,021 | $327,492 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 11 | 6 | $128,934 | $166,240 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 76 | 6,914 | $126,350 | $170,812 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 6 | 30 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 35 graduates measured | $277,783 | $329,225 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwestern University-Downers Grove IL · Private, nonprofit · 467 graduates measured | $146,888 | $174,977 | Data unavailable |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences MO · Private, nonprofit · 94 graduates measured | $143,543 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of New England ME · Private, nonprofit · 108 graduates measured | $139,953 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Meharry Medical College TN · Private, nonprofit · 70 graduates measured | $136,047 | $177,433 | Data unavailable |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences NV · Private, nonprofit · 149 graduates measured | $133,038 | $137,246 | Data unavailable |
| Nova Southeastern University FL · Private, nonprofit · 167 graduates measured | $121,567 | $156,942 | Data unavailable |
| University of Mississippi MS · Public · 54 graduates measured | $112,956 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Pennsylvania PA · Private, nonprofit · 199 graduates measured | $84,806 | $173,344 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University NC · Public · 35 graduates measured | $172,986 | $187,926 | Data unavailable |
| University of Iowa IA · Public · 124 graduates measured | $167,810 | $172,943 | Data unavailable |
| Augusta University GA · Public · 127 graduates measured | $164,868 | $196,587 | Data unavailable |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public · 163 graduates measured | $162,520 | $185,225 | Data unavailable |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis IN · Public · 175 graduates measured | $161,657 | $183,985 | Data unavailable |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences MO · Private, nonprofit · 93 graduates measured | $154,746 | $171,983 | Data unavailable |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine PA · Private, nonprofit · 173 graduates measured | $154,262 | $201,666 | Data unavailable |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham AL · Public · 104 graduates measured | $151,072 | $162,018 | Data unavailable |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville IL · Public · 47 graduates measured | $149,639 | $184,815 | Data unavailable |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City MO · Public · 169 graduates measured | $149,265 | $173,323 | Data unavailable |
| University of Detroit Mercy MI · Private, nonprofit · 187 graduates measured | $147,397 | $173,975 | Data unavailable |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO · Public · 151 graduates measured | $146,880 | $162,753 | Data unavailable |
| University of Louisville KY · Public · 166 graduates measured | $145,043 | $172,704 | Data unavailable |
| Marquette University WI · Private, nonprofit · 149 graduates measured | $144,876 | $183,642 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center TN · Public · 154 graduates measured | $144,758 | $179,129 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Dentistry
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Dentists, general | $170,950 | +5.7% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (1)
- 51.0401 Dentistry