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School Statistics

Loma Linda

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for Loma Linda Dental School

Background Information

  • Location: Loma Linda, CA
  • Institution Type: Private
  • Campus Setting: Suburban
  • Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • Mission Statement: “To further the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ: Students learn to provide high-quality oral health care based on sound biologic principles.”
  • Year Opened: 1953
  • Number of Months to Earn Degree: 46
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 100
  • Term Type: Quarter

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S.
M.B.A.
M.P.H.
M.S.
Ph.D.
Other Degrees

International Dental Graduate Programs:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs
Advanced Standing Program for IDGs
No
Yes

Admission Statistics: (2022 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

  • Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 25

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
1344
100
7.44%
In-State
551
61
11.07%
Out-State
653
27
4.13%
International
100
12
8.57%

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees
Percentage of Incoming Class
In-State
61
61%
Out-State
27
27%
International
12
12%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA
21
21.1
3.5
3.42

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees
95th Percentile of Enrollees
DAT Academic Average
18
25
Cumulative GPA
2.89
3.95
Science GPA
2.85
3.94

Prerequisites

Preferred
Strongly Preferred
Required
Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course
Credits (Semesters/Quarters)
Required Lab
Biology
8/12
Inorganic Chemistry
8/12
Organic Chemistry
8/12
Physics
8/12
Biochemistry
4/6
Composition
6/12
  • Recommended courses include: Anatomy, Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular biology/genetics, Physiology, Neuroscience, and others

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites
Electives
AP Credit Accepted
Yes (English only)
Yes
Community College Coursework Accepted
Yes (discouraged)
Yes (discouraged)

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

  •  64 semester units

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • 50, but 100 are recommended

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • 3 recommendations are required
    •  One from an employer or dental professional and one from a pre-professional
      committee or science professor must be submitted to AADSAS.
    • A spiritual recommendation form must be submitted along with the supplemental
      application.

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT
Canadian DAT Accepted?
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?
DAT Score Considered
Yes
Yes
No
Most recent score is considered the most important

Supplemental Information:

Participation in ADEA AADSAS
Required Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Fee
Yes
Yes
Yes: $150 for all applicants

Interview Format

  • Remote or in-person closed-file one-on-one interview with a faculty member

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:

Year
In-State Tuition
Out-State Tuition
Additional Fees
Estimated Living Expenses
D1
$82,701
$82,701
$11,000
$17,280
D2
$98,324
$98,324
$6,750
$21,120
D3
$98,324
$98,324
$1,850
$21,120
D4
$97,884
$97,884
$850
$21,120

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings 

  • Pre-Dental Opportunities
    • Summer enrichment workshops:
      • Careers in Dentistry Workshop
      • Minorities in Dentistry Workshop
      • Careers in Dental Hygiene Workshop
  • Research
    • Center for Dental Research (CDR) focuses on topics such as biomaterials and biocompatibility; esthetic dentistry; microbiology and biofilms; oral health; tooth bleaching; dentifrices; toothbrushes; dental implants, and resin composites
    • Student Research Program supports students who want to conduct clinical, science, and community research

2. Clinical Experiences

  • Clinical Curriculum Overview
    • D1: Basic sciences with intro to clinical sciences
    • D2: Applied sciences with intro to clinical practice
    • D3:Clinical sciences with extensive patient contact
    • D4: Delivery of comprehensive patient care
  • Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
    • Post-grad programs (most offer either an MS or MSD):
      • Endodontics
      • Implant Dentistry
      • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
        • 6-year OMFS/MD program combined with the School of Medicine
        • 4-year certificate program
      • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
      • Pediatric Dentistry
      • Periodontics
      • Prosthodontics
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