Location: El Paso, TX
Institution Type: Public
Campus Setting: Urban
Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Medicine
Mission Statement: “To improve the oral health of the people of Texas and the greater El Paso community by: focusing on the unique oral and overall health care needs of the border populations; demonstrating excellence in education, research, and patient care; and providing leadership to the practicing community and other area stakeholders.”

Year Opened: 2021
Number of Months to Earn Degree: 44
Campus Housing Available: No
Class Size: 60
Term Type: Semester

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S.

M.B.A.

M.P.H.

M.S.

Ph.D.

Other Degrees

Other degrees: Certificate in Public Health

International Dental Graduate Programs:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs

Advanced Standing Program for IDGs

Admissions Statistics: (2024 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 24

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants

Number of Enrollees

Enrollment Rate

Overall

1,040

5.77%

In-State

879

6.14%

Out-State

147

4.08%

International*

0.00%

At this time, WLHSDM does not have an international program. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees

Percentage of Incoming Class

In-State

90.00%

Out-State

10.00%

International

0.00%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average

Natural Science

DAT Perceptual Ability

Cumulative GPA

Science GPA

20.4

19.8

19.3

3.71

3.62

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees

95th Percentile of Enrollees

DAT Academic Average

Cumulative GPA

3.32

4.00

Science GPA

3.17

4.00

Prerequisites

Preferred

Strongly Preferred

Required

Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course

Credits (Semesters/Quarters)

Required Lab

Biology

14/21, and 2/3 of lab

General Chemistry

8/12

Organic Chemistry

8/12

Physics

8/12

Biochemistry

3/5

Microbiology

3/5

English

6/9

Statistics

3/5

ESL courses do not apply to the English requirement.
Recommended courses: Molecular Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Genetics, and Zoology

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites

Electives

AP Credit Accepted

Yes

Community College Coursework Accepted

Yes

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

Required Shadowing Hours:

There is no a minimum number of hours required for admission. However, the admissions committee prefers evidence of depth and breadth of patient exposure.

Letters of Recommendation:

Option 1: Two letters of evaluation (recommended that evaluators be current/former professors who can speak to candidates academic abilities in the natural sciences, as well as to the candidate’s noncognitive traits.
Option 2: Health Advisor Packet Evaluation
Note: applicants have the option to submit one extra letter.

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT

Canadian DAT Accepted?

Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?

DAT Score Considered

Yes

Focused on the highest score, although the application is reviewed holistically

Supplemental Information:

Mandatory Casper

Participation in ADEA AADSAS

Required Supplemental Application

Supplemental Application Fee

Interview Format

Total of 5 Stations – A mix of MMI, group, and individual formats designed to evaluate communication, creativity, and personality.

Two 2:1 MMIs – 2 applicants : 1 evaluator, 1 min to read + 7 min to respond; stay with the same partner and discuss the prompt conversationally.
1:1 MMI – 1 applicant : 1 evaluator, 7 min to read & respond; speak your thoughts aloud with no interaction from the evaluator.
Group Discussion – 5 applicants : 1 evaluator, 7 min to read & respond; open, creative, and informal group conversation.
One-on-One Interview – 1 applicant : 1 dentist evaluator, 25–30 min; conversational and personal, beyond what is in your application.

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025:

Year

In-State Tuition

Out-State Tuition

Additional Fees

Estimated Living Expenses

$31,275

$52,121

$18,779

$46,080

$31,275

$52,121

$13,479

$46,080

$31,275

$52,121

$13,479

$46,080

$31,275

$52,121

$13,479

$34,560

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings

Pre-Dental Opportunities
- Summer Enrichment Program
Research
- Students are required to complete a research project before graduating
- Research areas include biomaterials and public health

2. Clinical Experiences

Clinical Curriculum Overview
- D1: Emphasis on basic clinical skills through simulation labs and early patient interactions.
- D2: Increased hands-on clinical experience and community-based rotations to address regional oral health needs.
- D3: Advanced training in various dental specialties with greater autonomy in patient care.
- D4: Capstone clinical experiences focusing on comprehensive patient care and preparation for licensure examinations.
Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
- Currently, there are no residency programs, but an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency is planned for the near future.

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