Meharry (Meharry SOD)
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
Meharry Medical College
School Information
Mission Statement
To improve the health and health care of minority and underserved communities by offering excellent education and training programs in the health sciences.
Combined Degree Programs
- Dual DDS/Ph.D.
Offered in conjunction with the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the School of Graduate Studies to train clinical and research professionals.
- Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. Institute Accelerated Pathway Program (3+4)
An accelerated 7-year pathway (3 years at Tennessee State University and 4 years of dentistry at Meharry) for high-achieving students.
International Student Programs
Other Paths:
- DDS International Track Program - An advanced standing program for dentists trained outside the U.S. or Canada; includes a six-week assessment module followed by a two-year clinical program.
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 |
| biochem | 3 | Unknown | C |
| english | 6 | No | C |
| math | 3 | No | C |
| other | - | No | C |
Credit Policies
Experience Requirements
Letters of Recommendation
Required Types:
- science professor (2)
- other (1)
Test Requirements
Application Logistics
Admissions Cycle
2024-2025
Mean Age
24
Class Size
75
GPA Statistics
Cumulative GPA
3.44
Science GPA
3.33
DAT Scores
Primary Scores
Academic Average
17.7
Total Science
17.3
PAT
17.2
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
- 15
- 50th
- —
- 95th
- 20
Lower
Median
Upper
Cumulative GPA
Entering-class percentile
- 5th
- 2.84
- 50th
- 3.50
- 95th
- 3.93
Lower
Median
Upper
Science GPA
Entering-class percentile
- 5th
- 2.75
- 50th
- 3.44
- 95th
- 3.93
Lower
Median
Upper
Applicants & Enrollees
| Category | Applicants | Enrollees | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 1,852 | 75 | 4.0% |
| in state | 86 | 7 | 8.1% |
| out of_state | 1,670 | 67 | 4.0% |
| international | 96 | 1 | 1.0% |
Class Composition
Academic Year
2025-2026
Tuition & Fees (Program Total, In-State)
$292,392
Cost by Program Year
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Year | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | $58,984 | $58,984 | $17,532 |
| D2 | $58,984 | $58,984 | $18,504 |
| D3 | $58,984 | $58,984 | $10,160 |
| D4 | $58,984 | $58,984 | $10,260 |
| Total (4 Years) | $235,936 | $235,936 | $56,456 |
Research Opportunities
Research Themes:
Clinical Experiences
A comprehensive four-year curriculum; the first two years focus on biomedical and pre-clinical sciences with early clinical exposure, while the final two years emphasize hands-on clinical skill development and comprehensive patient care.
Clinical Rotations:
- Community-Based Dental Education - Rotations in community health centers, local public schools, and clinics for the underserved (e.g., Matthew Walker Community Health Center).
- Hospital Affiliations - Clinical experiences provided at the Nashville VA Medical Center and other local hospital sites.
- Oral Healthcare Day - Annual event providing community service and hands-on clinical outreach for students.
Postdoctoral Programs
- General Practice Residency (GPR)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency
- Pediatric Dentistry Residency
Graduate Programs
- Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA)
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences
- Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)