University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Admissions, Tuition & Student Feedback

School Overview

Degrees: DDS
Ownership: Private Non-Profit
Program Length: 4 years
Total Enrollment: 144
Founding Year: 1897
Accreditation Year: N/A

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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $743,603

Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for USC using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.

Cost of Living: Above national average cost of living

Los Angeles, CA is about 1.14x higher than the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment raises the living allowance from $3,000 to about $3,420 per month, mainly reflecting rent, food, transportation, and day-to-day expenses. Compare this with your own housing plan before treating it as exact.

Environment: Urban

Nestled in an area with excellent walkability and strong biking infrastructure, USC offers students flexibility in how they get around. Whether on foot or bike, most destinations are easily accessible, making for a convenient daily routine.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 41% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.

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Secondary Essays for USC

1. Other

Have you previously applied to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC? If so, did you participate in an interview?

2. Academic and Research Experiences

Have you taken any classes at a community college? If so, list each institution's name and the number of units you have completed.

3. Academic and Research Experiences

Have you ever been disciplined for academic performance (e.g., academic probation, dismissal, suspension, disqualification, etc.) by any college or school? If so, please explain.

4. Understanding and Commitment to Medicine

Have you ever had any certification, registration, license, or clinical privileges revoked, suspended, or in any way restricted by an institution, state, or locality? If so, please explain.

5. Personal Experiences and Challenges

Please list any additional achievements or upcoming experiences that you want to share. (e.g., Your research is being published, or you have been elected to a leadership position within a club.)

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About the School

The University of Southern California School of Dentistry is a private professional school with a unique heritage and an international reputation. The school is one of the cornerstones of professional excellence that contributes to the special strengths of its parent university environment. It is proud of its legacy of contributions to dental science. The core strength of the School of Dentistry rests with its renowned faculty. Their reputations as educators, scientists, and health care professionals secure the school`s continuing place as a leader. During the years following its founding in 1897, the School continues to emphasize its uniqueness and history of excellence: an unparalleled professional education combined with equally respected research and clinical care programs. At the same time, the School is ready to accept a new challenge to incorporate scientific excellence into an over-arching framework of humanistic compatibility that will become the new hallmark of the school`s mission in the 21st century.

Curriculum

The Problem Based Learning Program has been designed to address the recommendations developed by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine in their report, "Dental Education at the Crossroads: Challenges and Change." This program will present the identical set of curricular learning outcomes that were recently approved by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Accreditation. The Dental Problem Based Learning Program represents an alternative approach to the School of Dentistry curriculum rather than a new curriculum. The objective of the Problem Based Learning Program is to educate a student who will be committed to lifelong, self-motivated learning, skilled in the techniques of problem solving in a clinical setting, well-prepared to deal with the future advances in dental therapy and dental care delivery, able to deal with the medical presentations of dental patients, effective in group learning/accomplishment environments and highly skilled in the delivery of dental health care of outstanding quality.

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2026