USC (Ostrow)
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
University of Southern California
School Information
Mission Statement
The mission of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC is to provide education, scholarship, and outreach that improves oral, dental, craniofacial, and general systemic health and well-being locally, nationally, and internationally.
Combined Degree Programs
- DDS/PhD
A parallel track program in dental education leading to the D.D.S. degree and a PhD in Craniofacial Biology.
- MD/Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
A 72-month combined program in conjunction with the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
- MD/Certificate in Orofacial Pain
Offered in conjunction with the Keck School of Medicine.
- MS in Biomaterials and Digital Dentistry/Certificate
Students enrolled in the Certificate in Operative and Adhesive Dentistry can apply for this Master of Science.
International Student Programs
Other Paths:
- Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID) - A 2-year program designed for foreign-trained dentists to earn a U.S. DDS degree.
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Subject | Credits (Sem) | Lab Required | Min Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| biology | 8 | Yes | C |
| general chem | 8 | Yes | C |
| organic chem | 8 | Yes | C |
| physics | 8 | Yes | C |
| english | 8 | No | C |
| other | 8 | No | C |
Credit Policies
Experience Requirements
Letters of Recommendation
Required Types:
- science professor (2)
- dentist (1)
Test Requirements
Application Logistics
Admissions Cycle
2024-2025
Mean Age
23
Class Size
144
GPA Statistics
Cumulative GPA
3.76
Science GPA
3.70
DAT Scores
Primary Scores
Academic Average
21.2
Total Science
21.0
PAT
20.3
Entering Class Percentile Ranges
Reported 5th, median, and 95th percentile values for the entering class. Missing points were not reported.
DAT Academic Average
Entering-class percentile
- 5th
- 18
- 50th
- —
- 95th
- 26
Lower
Median
Upper
Cumulative GPA
Entering-class percentile
- 5th
- 3.54
- 50th
- —
- 95th
- 3.98
Lower
Median
Upper
Science GPA
Entering-class percentile
- 5th
- 3.40
- 50th
- —
- 95th
- 3.98
Lower
Median
Upper
Applicants & Enrollees
| Category | Applicants | Enrollees | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 2,618 | 144 | 5.5% |
| in state | 1,027 | 102 | 9.9% |
| out of_state | 1,266 | 34 | 2.7% |
| international | 325 | 8 | 2.5% |
Class Composition
Out-of-State Enrollee Origins
Home states represented by enrolled students from outside the school's local state.
34 students reported
Academic Year
2026-2027
Tuition & Fees (Program Total, In-State)
$481,671
Cost by Program Year
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Year | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | $128,547 | $128,547 | $2,653 |
| D2 | $128,547 | $128,547 | $2,578 |
| D3 | $128,547 | $128,547 | $2,578 |
| D4 | $85,698 | $85,698 | $2,523 |
| Total (4 Years) | $471,339 | $471,339 | $10,332 |
Research Opportunities
Research Themes:
Clinical Experiences
Herman Ostrow utilizes a learner-centered Problem-Based Learning (PBL) curriculum across 11 consecutive 14-week trimesters. Students begin clinical experience in their first year.
Clinical Rotations:
- USC Mobile Dental Clinic - The largest mobile fleet in the nation; a required rotation for all DDS students serving underserved communities.
- Hollenbeck Palms - A required geriatric clinical rotation at a nonprofit long-term care facility.
- Dr. Roseann Mulligan Special Patients Clinic - Rotation focused on treating medically complex, developmentally delayed, or physically disabled patients.
- USC Dental Clinic at Union Rescue Mission - Clinical service at a facility located in Los Angeles' Skid Row.
- Ostrow Community Clinics Selective - Hands-on clinical rotation for D4 and ASPID students at partnering FQHCs like La Maestra and Simi Valley Free Clinic.
- Externships - Available in Oral Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontics.
Postdoctoral Programs
- Advanced Operative and Adhesive Dentistry
- Endodontics
- General Practice Residency (GPR)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontology
- Prosthodontics
Graduate Programs
- Master of Science in Biomaterials and Digital Dentistry
- Master of Science in Biomedical Implants and Tissue Engineering
- Master of Science in Geriatric Dentistry
- Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine
- Master of Science in Community Oral Health
- PhD in Craniofacial Biology