MDS in USA: Top Universities, Admission Requirements, Fees & More

Best Universities for MDS in USA for Indian Students

USA is home to leading universities offering masters in dentistry for Indian students. Take a look at the top 5 renowned institutions for pursuing MDS in USA:

• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• University of California - San Francisco
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Washington

Discussed below are the key insights about the top 5 universities to study MDS in USA for Indian students:

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is the highest ranked US university in the QS subject rankings 2022 for dentistry. The program is delivered in 2 formats and gives you flexibility to take classes on campus or online.

University Type	Public
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor World ranking 2024	33
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (Dentistry)	1
Program Offered	MS in Dental Hygiene
Course Duration	2 years
Average Annual Program Fees	$33,320 per year

2. University of California - San Francisco

The University of California - San Francisco offers the opportunity to pursue a dual degree i.e. DDS combined with MBA where you will get to learn dental science with management and leadership skills.

University Type	Public
University of San Francisco World Ranking 2024	1001-1200
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (Dentistry)	6
Program Offered	DDS/ MBA
Course Duration	2 years
Average Annual Program Fees	$37,240 per year

3. Harvard University

The MMSc in Dental Education is a specialty program offered by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine at Harvard University. There are other advanced graduate education programs such as dental public health, endodontics, implant dentistry, oral medicine, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, etc.

University Type	Private
Harvard University World Ranking 2024	4
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (Dentistry)	11
Program Offered	MMS in Dental Education
Course Duration	2 years
Average Annual Program Fees	$67,610 per year

4. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

The Adams School of Dentistry at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is a well-known public university that offers the only bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene in the state and also quite affordable MS in Dental Hygiene Education. Other specializations offered by the school of dentistry are endodontics, orthodontics, operative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial radiology and pathology.

University Type	Public
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill World Ranking 2024	132
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (Dentistry)	18
Program Offered	MS in Dental Hygiene Education
Course Duration	22 months
Average Annual Program Fees	$31,345

5. New York University

NYU’s College of Dentistry is the largest and the 3rd oldest in USA with a reputation of training over 10% of the country’s dentists. The Graduate School of Arts & Science under the Department of Biology at NYU offers the Masters in Biology with an Oral Biology track.

University Type	Private
New York University World Ranking 2024	38
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (Dentistry)	23
Program Offered	Masters in Biology - Oral Biology, Clinical Research and Biomaterials
Course Duration	2 years
Average Annual Program Fees	$60,251 per year

Read: How to decide the right university?

Course Curriculum for MDS in USA

Dental science is a branch of medical science and a very popular course among young aspirants interested in joining the healthcare sector. Discussed in the table below is the course curriculum for MDS in USA:

Course Duration	2 years
Course Content	Oral anatomy, oral pathology, pharmacology, public health, periodontics, prosthodontics, human anatomy, orthodontics, maxillofacial surgery, oral microbiology
Course Alternatives	MS in Orthodontics, MS in Endodontics, MS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Master of Public Health, Master of Hospital Administration

Read: Best courses to study in USA

Eligibility Criteria for MDS in USA after BDS in India

There are certain eligibility criteria that need to be met for admission to MDS in USA after BDS in India. The best way to find out about the admission requirements is to visit the official university website. Take a look at the basic criteria for admission to dental schools in USA:

• Bachelor’s degree
• English language proficiency test scores
• GRE scores

Here’s how you can meet the eligibility criteria to pursue MDS in USA:

• Bachelor’s degree

You will need to have a completed bachelor’s degree in dentistry to apply for a MDS in USA for Indian students comparable to a US degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above.

Read: Bachelor’s in USA

• English language proficiency test scores

All international students are required to submit English language proficiency test scores for admission. You may fulfill this requirement by submitting TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent on other accepted test scores.

• GRE scores

GRE scores are also required to get admission to US universities offering MDS in USA for Indian students. The score requirements vary across universities however it is recommended to have a minimum score of 315 or above.

How to Apply for an MDS Degree in USA?

1. Firstly, prepare a list of universities you intend to apply to.
2. Check the university website for upcoming intakes, deadlines, admission requirements, process, fees, funding, etc.
3. Postgraduate dental courses in USA for international students invite applications for the fall and spring semesters.
4. Complete the online application form and pay the necessary application fee.
5. You will be asked to upload supporting documents along with your application so keep them handy and check for evaluation or translation requirements.
6. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation on email with a link to track the status of your application.
7. Wait for the admission decision and complete the enrollment process for admission.
8. Finally as you receive your acceptance letter apply for a F-1 student visa.

Also Read
When to apply for F-1 visa?	F1-Visa Interview Process
USA Student Visa

Documents Required for MDS in USA for International Students

If you are planning to apply for postgraduate dental courses in USA for international students, you must keep the necessary documents ready before the application window to avoid hassles at the last minute. It is best to go through the university website and gather documents beforehand. Browse through the list of general documents you will need to apply for MDS in USA after BDS in India:

• Copy of your official transcripts of undergraduate degree
• Official translation of documents not issued in English
• English language proficiency test scores
• Entrance exam scores to study in USA
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• CV with list of achievements, extra-curricular participation, volunteering activities, etc.
• Copy of passport
• Bank statements as proof of finances

MDS in USA Cost

Getting an MDS in USA for Indian students is definitely a costly affair. It is important to know your expenses before you decide to apply to any universitỵ You will be paying for the university tuition fees and living expenses for studying in USA which have been discussed below:

Tuition Fees

The average MDS in USA cost is around $60,000 per year which varies across universities. If you are looking for affordable programs it is advisable to apply for public universities in USA that offer programs with tuition fees ranging between $15,000-35,000 per year.

Read: Total cost of studying in USA

Cost of Living

Living in the US is considered more expensive than several other countries. You will need around $1,000-1,500 per month to meet your living expenses i.e. around $12,000-18,000 per year. The cost of living is something that you can minimize by comparing alternatives for accommodation, transportation, personal expenses, etc. and choosing the more budget-friendly option.

Read: Cost of living in USA

Scholarships for MDS in USA

Scholarships for postgraduate dental programs for international students in USA are definitely worth counting on if you are looking for financial aid. There are a variety of scholarships including university scholarship, entrance scholarship, program-specific scholarship, government scholarship, etc. 

The best part about being awarded a scholarship is that around 25-100% of your tuition fees will be covered and you do not have to worry about repayment.

Here is a list of few program-specific scholarship opportunities to study MDS in USA for international students:

Scholarship Name	Amount (in USD)
UB SDM Scholarship (University of Buffalo)	Varies
Harvard University Presidential Scholarship (Harvard University)	Varies
Penn Dental Medicine Dean’s Scholarship (University of Pennsylvania)	$40,000 per year
UCSF School of Dentistry Scholarships (University of California - San Francisco)	$5,000-40,000 per year
Dr. Fanny N. Freund Advanced Education Scholarship (University of Minnesota)	$12,000

Read: Scholarships in USA

Career Opportunities after MDS in USA

The most common path chosen by students after doing MDS in USA is becoming a dentist. However you may have to go through various stages of working as a dental assistant, technician or other entry level positions before being able to work independently or run a personal chamber. As a fresher in the dental profession, you can expect a minimum salary of $49,300 per year that can go up to $276,000 per year with years of experience.

Take a look at the table below to get an idea about some job titles suitable for dentists with a MDS degree in USA:

Job Title	Average Annual Salaries (in USD)
Dentist	$238,000
Dental Assistant	$65,300
Dental Technician	$59,000
Dental Therapist	$92,300
Orthodontic Assistant	$62,700

There is a lot of scope after getting a masters in dentistry in USA for international students. Once you enter the field of dentistry and get expertise, you can also become an endodontist, orthodontist, prosthodontist and periodontist. With proper planning you can get into one of the prestigious universities offering a master degree in dentistry for international students in USA. So contact our Yocket counsellors today for expert guidance and get yourself a seat in your dream college.