Applications must be submitted online through the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). 

Apply Early. Preference is given to candidates who apply early in the application cycle. The earlier we receive your completed, verified application, the earlier our committee conducts a holistic review of your application to be considered for an interview.

• April 16, 2025 | 2025-26 ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP) opens.
• May 13, 2025 | 2025-26 ADEA AADSAS application opens. 
• June 1, 2025 | 2025-26 ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP) closes.
• June 3, 2025 | First day to submit your 2025-26 ADEA AADSAS application.
• September 15, 2025 (11:59pm EST) | Deadline to submit 2025-26 ADEA AADSAS application.
• September 30, 2025 (11:59pm EST) | Incomplete applications [missing official DAT scores, letter(s) of evaluation, transcript(s)] will be cancelled.

September 15, 2025 (11:59pm EST): Deadline to submit ADEA AADSAS application.

September 30, 2025 (11:59pm EST): Incomplete applications [missing official DAT scores, letter(s) of evaluation, transcript9s)] will be cancelled.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry DDS Program does not have a supplemental application.

• A minimum of 90 semester hours from an accredited college or university is required by June 30 of the year you plan to enroll. 
  • Most applicants complete a bachelor's degree.
• A maximum of 60 semester hours from accredited community colleges will be applied to the required 90 semester hours. 

Required Courses

All applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university with a grade of "C" or higher no later than June 30 of the year the applicant plans to enroll. 

Grades of "C-" or lower and courses taken pass/fail or credit/no credit will not be considered as meeting the prerequisite requirement.

• 8 hours of Physics: 1/4 lab work
• 8 hours of General Chemistry: 1/4 lab work
• 8 hours of Organic Chemistry: 1/4 lab work
• 3 hours of Biochemistry: does not require lab work
• 8 hours of Biology: 1/4 lab work
• 6 hours of English: Examples include composition, rhetoric, and speech courses required for bachelor's degree.

In-person lab work is strongly recommended.

We accept community college coursework. 

We accept online coursework from accredited colleges and universities. 

AP/CLEP coursework may satisfy course requirements if listed on a college transcript.

Courses Effected by COVID-19

• If you attended an institution that mandated coursework change to Pass/Fail during the spring or summer 2021 sessions due to COVID-19, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry expects your institution to annotate this mandate on your transcripts.

A minimum 2.65 total GPA and 2.65 science GPA, as calculated by ADEA AADSAS, is required for admission consideration.

Learn more about how ADEA AADSAS calculates grade point averages by visiting the ADEA Frequently Asked Questions page.

Transcripts must be sent to ADEA AADSAS from all institutions you listed in the Colleges Attended section of your application, even if the courses later transferred to another institution or you were dismissed from the institution for any reason.

ADEA AADSAS cannot process your application without receiving all of your transcripts.

Visit the ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center for instructions on how to send official US or English-Canadian transcripts to ADEA AADSAS.

• September 30, 2025 (11:59pm EST): Deadline for official DAT (or CDAT) scores.  
• 350 Academic Average (AA): Minimum DAT score required.
• When more than one DAT or CDAT score is reported, the most recent set of scores is considered to meet our admissions requirements.
• DAT (or CDAT) must have been taken within 3 years of the year in which admission is sought.

FAQs: Dental Admission Test (DAT) Scoring and Reporting

A minimum of one [1] committee letter/packet or three [3] individual letters of evaluation is required.

ADEA AADSAS allows applicants to submit one [1] committee letter and one [1] individual letter, or four [4] individual letters.

• Letters do not need to be written by specific professors or professionals.
• It is strongly recommended the letter be on letterhead and include a signature. 
• Letters must be submitted to AADSAS through the AADSAS Portal.
• Visit the ADEA website for a description of letter types.

The 2025-2026 ADEA AADSAS personal statement prompt: 

What motivated you to pursue a career in oral health? 

In your response, you may wish to describe and highlight your strengths, experiences, backgrounds and uniqueness that will contribute to your success in this career.

Shadowing a dentist or dental specialist to observe procedures, learn terminology and techniques, observe different practice environments and ask the dental professional questions about their journey to practicing dentistry.

Shadowing a dentist will give you the opportunity to confirm and demonstrate your desire to pursue dentistry and also help you picture yourself as a practicing dental professional.

• A minimum of 40 hours of dental shadowing is required. 
• Shadowing under a variety of general dentists and dental specialists is desirable.
• It is strongly recommended to report shadowing from college and after.

A variety of experiences is desirable. Report your experiences (dental-related or otherwise) on your ADEA AADSAS application.

• Experiences could include (but are not limited to) academic enrichment, dental experience, employment, extracurricular activities, research, leadership, and volunteer/community enrichment.
• A minimum of 40 hours of volunteer/community enrichment is recommended.
• Applicants who show a commitment to addressing health disparities and caring for underserved communities are given strong consideration.

All offers of acceptance and admission are conditional pending completion, at the applicant's expense, of acceptable Background Checks. Once accepted, applicants will receive instructions on how to apply for the Background Checks. 

We are unable to offer interviews to all applicants. The Admissions Committee will contact those who are selected for an interview via email.

• If you are selected for an interview, we require a processing fee of $60 for US residents ($100 for international students).
  • Processing Fee Waiver - A limited number of processing fee waivers are available for applicants who qualified for the ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP). Such applicants should forward their approval email from AADSAS to dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu for consideration.
• Interviews are conducted on weekdays from August - November.
• It is in the applicant's best interest to schedule their interview as soon as possible after the invitation is received.
• Applicants who sign up for an interview date and do not show will have their application cancelled immediately.

• December 15, 2025: Earliest date to receive an acceptance letter.
• $500 pre-deposit on tuition: Required to reserve a seat in the upcoming class. Non-refundable. 
• Admission is contingent upon:
  • Completion of successful Background Checks.
  • Passing all prerequisites before June 30.
  • Compliance with our Technical Standards for Admissions and Matriculation; University of Iowa Code of Student Life, and Student Code of Conduct (effective at time of course registration).
• ADEA AADSAS Guidelines for Dental Schools When Extending Offers of Admission and Scholarships