Thinking about attending New York University for dental school?
One look at the tuition cost, and you might think again.
Based on published 2018-2019 tuition rates, four years of NYU dental school tuition costs $315,416.
If that looks high to you, you’re right. It is.
NYU has the fifth most expensive tuition out of all U.S. dental schools.
But just how high is too high when it comes to dental school costs?
Let’s look at how NYU dental school tuition compares to the average cost of dental school, how much debt students graduate with, and just how prestigious a dental degree from NYU really is. Plus, we’ll give you a few alternatives if you’re hoping to stay in-state for dental school.
How Does NYU Dental School Tuition Compare to the Average Cost of Dental School?
Dental school costs in 2019 for residents look like this:
- Average four-year tuition: $197,576
- Average four-year total: $251,233
- Median four-year tuition: $179,699
- Median four-year total: $240,847.
NYU’s published tuition costs are approximately 60% higher than the above average and median costs.
NYU charges $315,416 for four years of tuition. Costs rise to a $373,026 total four year cost when adding in mandatory fees, instruments, instructional materials, health services, and other fixed costs.
This makes NYU the 7th most expensive U.S. dental school based on total four-year cost.
Unfortunately, some NYU students end up paying for five years of dental school instead of just four. The ADA reports that for the 2018 to 2019 school year, NYU had seven enrolled students who were repeating their first-year of dental school. NYU’s percentage of repeaters is 1.84%, which might seem insignificant, but it’s nearly double the average (0.97%).
If you end up needing to pay for your first year twice, your total cost of dental school will increase by another $78,000+. When talking to an admission counselor at NYU College of Dentistry, inquire about repeaters. Ask the college about what steps they take to keep students on track to graduate on time. It may simply be that those students simply weren’t prepared the first time around. Or, it could indicate a flaw in the dental school program.
Data comes from published NYU tuition rates, the American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2018-2019 Survey of Dental Education Report 2., and the American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2018-19 Survey of Dental Education Report 1 Table 8.
Average Financial Aid at NYU College of Dentistry
Financial aid helps make dental school a little easier to afford.
But how likely is it that you’ll receive aid at NYU?
Will it be enough to offset the high NYU dental school tuition?
Percent Receiving Aid
At NYU, approximately 80% of students applied for financial assistance for the 2017 to 2018 school year. Of those that applied, 91% showed need and received some form of financial aid.
Scholarships & Grants
For the 2017 to 2018 school year, NYU awarded a combined $1.7 million in scholarship funds to 100 students who demonstrated need. Ten students qualified for federal grants or scholarship money totaling $402,793. Scholarships and grants do not need to be paid back. This means only 110 students out of the 1,515 enrolled received “free” financial assistance.
Federal Student Loans
All 1,101 students who demonstrated need on their FAFSA received federal student loans. This means that even those who received grant or scholarship money still had to borrow money. In total, federal loans equaled $110,098,899. Students don’t borrow equally, but if they did, that would be $99,999 per student for one year.
Private Student Loans
Of the students unable to demonstrate need, 50 took out private student loans to help cover costs. These private loans totaled $4,999,950. Students who displayed financial did not need to take out private loans.
If you choose to attend NYU, there’s a good chance you’ll receive some sort of financial aid. Unfortunately, the aid you receive will likely need to be repaid. Only 7.26% of students received money that doesn’t need to be paid back a.k.a. “free money.”
All data comes from the American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2018-19 Survey of Dental Education Report 2 Table 21.
Is the High-Cost Worth It?
NYU awards very few scholarship and grants, so students must seek out alternative ways to pay for the $373,026 cost of dental school (plus living expenses). For most students, this means borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout their four years in dental school.
On average, indebted dental students borrow $285,184 to pay for their undergraduate and dental school degree. Since NYU dental school tuition and fees costs significantly more than the average, it’s safe to assume NYU graduates take on even more debt to pay for their DDS.
Is taking on all that debt worth it?
It really depends on how much you care about prestige. If you value prestige, then the sacrifices you’ll need to make paying back your student debt might be worth it. If you care most about becoming a dentist and less about prestige, then you should seek out an alternative.
The Prestige of an NYU Dental Degree
When a school is prestigious, it’s easier to justify the high cost, but is that the case with NYU?
In general, yes.
NYU has a prestigious reputation in the dental community. It’s the third oldest dental school in the United States and has one of the fastest-growing dental research programs in the nation. Dental students complete their dental degree in the classroom, in the lab, and in the NYU dental clinic learning from and working alongside pioneers in the dental field. More than 735 full- and part-time clinicians and researchers are on faculty, teaching classes and doing research.
NYU Dental School Ranking
NYU also ranks highly at both the undergraduate and professional school level, indicating that it’s a well-rounded school with a widespread reputation.
As a whole, New York University ranks 30 on the U.S. News National University Rankings, making it one of the top colleges in the country.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities’ (ARWU) ranks NYU College of Dentistry 17th on its list of institutions with the best dentistry and oral science programs. NYU College of Dentistry ranks 11th when you only count U.S. dental colleges, beating out Ivy League schools like Stanford University.
Networking Potential
A university’s prestige plays the biggest role after you graduate and seek employment.
Unfortunately, NYU doesn’t publish data for dental graduate job placement. However, it does boast that nearly 10% of U.S. dentists graduated from NYU College of Dentistry. It’s the largest dental school in the United States with more than 1,900 pre- and postdoctoral students enrolled each year. That sort of networking power is priceless when you’re fresh out of dental school and looking for your first job.
Alternatives to NYU Dental School
If you’re wary of NYU dental school tuition prices, don’t worry. NYU Dental School boasts an impressive reputation, but it’s not your only option as a New York resident.
Consider the other four NY dental schools instead if you’re looking for more scholarship opportunities, cheaper tuition, or a higher-ranked program:
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine—More Scholarship Aid Available
Rankings
On the ARWU rankings list of institutions with the best dentistry and oral sciences programs, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine ranks 45th in the world and 19th in the U.S.
Based on 2019 to 2020 academic year estimates, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine charges $319,440 for four years of tuition. The total four-year cost of their DDS program, which includes tuition, fees, and educational expenses, is $375,663. It’s $2,637 more expensive than NYU.
Financial Aid
During the 2017-2018 school year, 322 students were enrolled in Columbia’s dental school. Based on the FAFSA, 218 students qualified for need-based aid.
Columbia awarded 149 need-determined scholarships totaling $1.6 million. Eight students received a combined total of $692,529 in government grants and scholarships. An additional two students earned a combined $10,000 in other grants and scholarships.
Of those who didn’t exhibit need on the FAFSA, 16 received institution-sponsored grants or scholarships and 15 received grants or scholarships from the federal government.
At a minimum, 51% of enrolled students at Columbia received some form of financial assistance that they don’t have to pay back.
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine—Cheaper Tuition
Rankings
On the ARWU rankings list, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine ties for 51st in the world. It ranks 22nd in the United States along with schools like Tufts and Stanford University.
Cost Comparison
New York residents who attend Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine pay $73,800 for four years of tuition. This is based on published 2019 tuition rates. With fees and supplies, costs rise to $148,340. At $224,686 cheaper than NYU, Stony Brook is your most affordable option in New York State.
Financial Aid
For the 2017-2018 school year, 175 students attended Stony Brook for dental school with 137 qualifying for need-based aid. Stony Brook awarded a total of $18,500 in scholarship money to 11 students. One student received $47,920 in federal grants or scholarships. Fifteen students split $64,500 in state government grants or scholarships. Two students received a combined $2,000 in outside scholarships.
Stony Brook also offers federal work study for dental students. Forty-six students worked during the academic year and earned a total of $38,900.
At a minimum, 26% of Stony Brook dental students received financial aid that they didn’t need to pay back.
Touro College of Dental Medicine—Cheaper but not Ranked
Cost Comparison
Based on available estimates, Touro College of Dental Medicine charges $232,610 for four years of tuition. Estimated total four-year costs rise to $309,583. This is $63,443 cheaper than NYU.
Rankings
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College doesn’t rank on the ARWU list of institutions with the best dentistry and oral sciences programs. However, this dental school has only been around since 2016, so it’s still building a reputation.
Financial Aid
Of the 217 students enrolled in the dental school in the 2017-2018 school year, 181 qualified for need-based financial aid. The college did not award any scholarships or grants and neither did the federal government or state government. Instead, students who needed aid were left to borrow federal student loans.
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine—Best In-State Alternative
Cost Comparison
Based on 2019 estimates, four years of tuition at University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine costs $143,320 for a resident. Total four-year cost rises to $239,801 when accounting for tuition, mandatory fees, and other required educational expenses. This is $133,225 cheaper than NYU.
Ranking
The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine ranks number 13th on the ARWU world rankings for dentistry and oral sciences. It ranks 10th out of all U.S. dental schools—one place above NYU.
Financial Aid
For the 2017-2018 school year, the University at Buffalo had 405 students enrolled with 315 demonstrating financial need. The university awarded a total of $454,910 in scholarship aid to 178 students. Three students received federal grants and scholarships amounting to a combined total of $119,854. Thirty-one students received state scholarships and grants amounting to a combined total of $190,030. Nine students earned outside scholarship aid amounting to a combined $36,234.
Of the students who did not demonstrate financial need, 63 received a combined total of $15,300 in scholarship money from the college. Seven received a combined total of $449,716 in federal grants and scholarships.
At a minimum, 59.5% of students who attended received some form of financial aid that they didn’t have to pay back.
Final Thoughts on NYU Dental School Tuition
NYU dental school tuition is certainly high, and the fact that so few students receive scholarship money is something to be concerned about. But, if you value prestige and city-living, New York University College of Dentistry is still a top choice for in-state residents. You’ll have little trouble networking after graduation, making it easier to find a job.
If you value prestige and don’t mind the snow, the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine is a great school too. Tuition costs less, the school ranks higher, and more students receive financial aid that they don’t have to pay back.
