Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide to Tuition, Admissions, and Program Overview

Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to shaping the future of dental education through innovative approaches and measurable advancements. Guided by a comprehensive strategic plan, the school has spent the past few years transforming its methods of teaching, learning, discovery, and service. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the school, covering tuition, fees, admission statistics, program details, and other essential information for prospective students.

Tuition and Fees

Understanding the financial aspects of dental education is crucial for prospective students. Tuition and fees for students of the School of Dental Medicine for the Academic Year 2025-2026 and Academic Year 2026-2027 are determined by a student's program and/or year in the program. Detailed information is available in the tables provided by the university, which outline the specific costs billed for each term.

It is important to note that the listed tuition and fees may not represent all the charges a student may incur. Additional expenses can arise, and students are encouraged to visit the Common Fees and Transactions page for a comprehensive description of common fees, including contact information for inquiries.

Regardless of the learning environment, the tuition and fees remain consistent throughout the semester. Certain fees may be eligible for waiver, with the waiver applying to both fall and spring semesters if completed by the fall semester tuition due date. Additionally, some fees can be opted-out through the Student Information System (SIS) by the semester tuition due date, requiring students to opt-out every semester. For example, the Sales Tax is charged for the One to One Fitness Membership and the current sales tax rate is 8%.

Financial Estimations

Financial estimations for students starting in Fall 2024 provide a clearer picture of the overall expenses. The following table breaks down the Cost of Attendance for D1s. Note that these costs do not include living expenses.

Read also: CWRU Tuition and Fees

Year	In-State Tuition	Out-State Tuition	Additional Fees	Estimated Living Expenses
D1	$86,636	$86,636	$24,167	$21,812
D2	$86,636	$86,636	$14,107	$21,812
D3	$86,636	$86,636	$15,922	$26,944
D4	$86,636	$86,636	$15,922	$26,944

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Cost of Attendance for D1s at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, excluding living expenses, is as follows:

	In-State	Out-of-State
D1 Tuition	$83,666	$83,666
D1 Fees	$1,455	$1,455
D1 Other Costs	$21,535	$21,535
D1 Total	$106,656	$106,656

Admission Statistics and Requirements

General Statistics

Understanding the admission landscape is essential for prospective students. The most recent data reveals key insights into applicant demographics and academic performance.

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 23

Acceptance Rates

Acceptance Rate: The schools with the lowest Enrollment Rate were Case Western Reserve University (25.9%), Touro College of Dental Medicine (30.1%) and Western University of Health Sciences (31.1%).

Academic Averages for Acceptance

DAT Academic Average
DAT Natural Science
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA

It's important to review the range of academic averages for acceptance, considering both the 5th and 95th percentiles of enrollees to understand the academic profile of successful applicants.

Prerequisites

Applicants must fulfill specific prerequisite coursework to be considered for admission. These requirements typically include:

Required Course Credits: Specified in semesters or quarters
Required Lab

Recommended courses encompass a range of subjects, including Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Genetics, and Physiology.

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit

Community College Coursework Accepted: Yes
Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours: 60 Hours

Shadowing Hours

Required Shadowing Hours: 0 Hours
Recommended Shadowing Hours: At least 75 hours of shadowing multiple dentists is strongly recommended.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are typically required to submit letters of recommendation through one of the following options:

Option 1: An institutional evaluation letter that holistically assesses the applicant’s development, including specific examples of teamwork, creativity, and service to diverse communities, ideally submitted by a pre-health advisor committee.
Option 2: A composite letter or packet of individual letters, which must include two science faculty evaluations from instructors who know the applicant well beyond the classroom, plus optional letters.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Requirements

Mandatory DAT: Yes
Canadian DAT Accepted?: Yes - English version
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?: No
DAT Score Considered: Only most recent score

Supplemental Information

Mandatory Casper Participation: Yes
Participation in ADEA AADSAS Required: Yes
Supplemental Application: Yes
Supplemental Application Fee: $65 for all applicants

Interview Format

Remote, individual interviews with faculty or staff.

Program Details

Combined Degrees Offered

Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine offers a variety of combined degree programs, including:

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

International Dental Graduate Programs

The school provides specialized programs for international dental graduates, including:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs
Advanced Standing Program for IDGs

Pediatric Dentistry Program

The two-year post-doctoral residency program in Pediatric Dentistry follows the principles and policies outlined in the Guidelines for Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Successful completion results in a certificate of specialty education in pediatric dentistry, qualifying the resident for examination by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. There is also an option for students to receive the M.S.D. Students who elect to complete the Master's program pay full tuition. The M.S.D. citizens and foreign-trained dentists. Foreign-trained dentists MUST complete a CODA accredited G.P.R. or A.E.G.D.

The acquired skills prepare the pediatric dental resident to prevent, diagnose, and treat common and unusual oral problems that might arise during physical, psychological, behavioral and social development of the individuals under our care. The CWRU SODM patient care facilities include the Cornell Pediatric Dentistry Clinic and the outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Residents have the opportunity to treat complex pediatric patients under sedation and in our state-of-art outpatient clinical facility. Additionally, phase I and II orthodontic training is provided through assigned orthodontic faculty. The resident is also granted teaching privileges at the Cornell Dental Clinic, supervising the DMD students, help them to understand children’s dental growth and development, the treatment plans, and teach them behavior guidance.

Read also: Explore Case Western Reserve

University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital is a primary and tertiary care center for pediatric health care in Northeast Ohio. Consequently, the outpatient clinic offers comprehensive clinical experience in management of medically compromised patients along with management of traumatic dental injuries. Residents have numerous experiences in advanced behavior guidance techniques: oral sedation, intravenous sedation, general anesthesia. University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women and Children Dental Clinic is a community dental clinic. Residents at MetroHealth Systems will experience community care in the newly built Ohio City Family Dentistry clinic. The clinic is fully equipped with new technology. Our residents are also involved in our community outreach initiatives. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile travels to areas around the region to provide comprehensive care to children with limited access to oral health services.

Faculty in Pediatric Dentistry

The Pediatric Dentistry program boasts a distinguished faculty, including:

Gerald A. Ferretti, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. - Professor and Chair, Pediatric Dentistry* (full-time)
Dr. Margaret E. Ferretti, D.M.D. - Program Director (full-time)*
Ying An, D.D.S., Ph.D. - Visiting Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (full-time)
Yasser Armanazi, D.D.S. - Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Jed M. Best, D.D.S., M.S. - Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Andrea Browne, D.M.D. - Visiting Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Renee Commarato, D.D.S., M.S. - Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Monica Constanine, D.M.D. -- Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Theodore Croll, D.D.S. - Clinical Professor* (part-time)
Frederick J. Gehrke, D.D.S. - Clinical Senior Instructor (part-time)
John Gerstenmaier, D.D.S. - Clinical Professor, Pre-doctoral Pediatric Dentistry (part time)
John H. Gerstenmaier, III, D.M.D. - Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Daniel M. Gindi, D.M.D. - Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
James Kozic, D.D.S. - Clinical Instructor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
John E. Nathan, D.D.S., M.D.S. - Adjunct Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Rebecca L. Robbins, D.D.S. - Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
David L. Rothman, D.D.S. - Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Amberlee Taylor, D.M.D. - Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry* (part-time)
Ozlem Tulunoglu, D.D.S., Ph.D. - Visiting Instructor, Pre-doctoral Pediatric Dentistry (full-time)
Manish Valiathan, D.D.S., M.S. - Associate Professor, Orthodontics* (part-time)
Sofia Xofylli, D.D.S., M.S.D. 1/wk during second year.

University Offerings

Case Western Reserve University offers a range of opportunities for dental students:

Academic Offerings:
- Pre-Dental Opportunities: Special affiliations with local colleges and universities
- Research: Summer Research Program allows dental students to participate in mentored summer research, including a stipend. Research centers and programs include the Bolton-Brush Growth Study Center, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and the Case Head and Neck Cancer Research Collaborative.
Additional Information:
- Once accepted into the program, a $500 non-refundable fee must be paid by June 19, 2026, to reserve your seat in the class and will be applied towards the tuition. The remainder of the tuition will be billed to you by Case Western Reserve University starting in August 2026. Failure to pay the fall semester tuition will prevent registration for the second semester. Please refer to the Student Accounts Office for information on payment plan options (cannot be used for tuition deposit), health fee and penalties.
- The EFDA program is a dental continuing education course and therefore does not qualify for federal financial aid. However, students may apply for private educational funding.
- The University charges all enrolled students a medical plan fee each semester. If a student can provide proof of coverage in their own health care plan, then they may waive the fee.
- All students accepted into the EFDA Program must complete a background check (through an agency used by the school). Accepted students will be provided information on how to complete the background check immediately once the tuition deposit has been received. Background checks MUST be approved and completed before the first day of the program for admission.

Loans and Debt

Understanding the financial burden of dental school is crucial. In the most recent year (2021), 83% of dental school students graduated with educational debt, which includes both undergraduate and dental school debt. The average educational debt for all indebted graduates was $302K, with Private schools ($355K) significantly higher than Public schools ($261K).

The primary source of loans in Dental School are Federal Loans. Dental School students are able to take out Federal Loans that cover the entire Cost of Attendance (C.O.A.). The two main types of Federal Loans are Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (more favorable) and Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loans (less favorable).

Repayment

Many students will enter a repayment plan of between 5 and 20 years. Interest will continue to accumulate on those Federal Loans (6.54% for Unsubsidized Loans, 7.54% for Graduate Plus Loans). Many students will choose to refinance their Federal Loans with a private lender. Private lenders offer lower interest rates that can significantly lower monthly payments. When applying to refinance with a private lender, they often look at your debt-to-income ratio. For many new graduates with significant debt, it may take a few years for their income to reach a level where they are able to refinance with a private lender.

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