Admissions

Application Process

Applicants must apply through the American Dental Education Association's Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service. The Dental Hygiene Program begins each August. The deadline for applications is the previous Jan. 31. 

Timeline

• Applicants must take the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene through the American Dental Association. We strongly recommend that applicants complete the exam by early October. The application must be submitted online by Jan. 31.
• The Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service's online application opens in mid-October. The application will require:
  • All college coursework from your transcripts.
  • Personal and demographic information.
  • Program campus selection.
  • Program questions, including an essay about why you are pursuing dental hygiene.
  • Official college transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, even if transfer credit is not being used from a particular institution. All must be sent directly to the application service, not to the program. Sending it to the program will delay verification of your application.
  • A fee of $50. 
• The dental hygiene admissions committee notifies all applicants of decisions. Upon notice of acceptance for admission to the dental hygiene program, a letter of intent to enroll and a non-refundable deposit of $300 are required. The full amount of the deposit applies toward payment of tuition and fees when the student enrolls.

Prerequisites

Predental hygiene requirements include courses in high school and college.

Selection Factors

Important factors in selection include the following:

• Academic background and admissions test scores.
• Letters of Recommendation: Up to three letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged.
• Observation hours: While no minimum number of observation hours is required, applicants are strongly encouraged to acquire a meaningful amount of experience in relevant settings to enhance their understanding of the profession. Document hours on the Registered Dental Hygienist Observation Log.
• Intellectual promise and strong personal qualifications: Consideration is given to good moral character, a desire to serve the public, personal maturity and professional motivation. Students selected must be committed to scholarly pursuits and have career goals compatible with the philosophy of the baccalaureate program.