
Smiling is contagious, and dentists play a vital role in keeping smiles healthy while making a positive impact on the world. The Pre-Professional Pre-Dental program at Alvernia University supports students on their path to dental school by offering personalized advising and multiple pathways to success. Many students choose to major in the sciences, most often biology or biochemistry, since these programs include the prerequisite coursework required by most dental schools. Students who select a different major may do so successfully, but they will need to complete additional courses to meet admission requirements. Alvernia students also have the opportunity to fast-track their journey through a special partnership with LECOM or to pursue admission to other dental schools through the traditional 4+4 program.
Students have the opportunity to meet with a Pre-Health Professions Advisor starting in their first year, and they are encouraged to meet with the advisor regularly each year after that. These meetings help students to learn how to prepare for medical/professional school applications, and allow them to plan their time and experiences at Alvernia accordingly.
Students are encouraged to join the Pre-Health Professions Club, which offers opportunities to connect with peers who share similar interests, explore different health professions, engage in community service, and build leadership skills.
Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.
There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.
Specific admission requirements vary per dental program. You should consult with schools of interest to determine their specific admission requirements. However, most dental schools require the following coursework for admission:
Many programs require a secondary application, often with additional essays and recommendations, after submitting through AADSAS or TMDSAS. For schools not using a centralized service, contact them directly for application materials.
Most dental schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:
Chemistry: 2 Semesters
Organic Chemistry: 2 Semesters
Biology: 2 Semesters
Physics: 2 Semesters
Some dental schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:
Math: 2 Semesters
English: 2 Semesters
Anatomy and Physiology: 2 Semesters
Upper-Level Sciences
Students entering the program with 70+ transferable credits or an associate degree must complete 30/31 Liberal Arts Core credits.
A total of 123 credits with 3 credits in a human diversity course are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required. In addition, at least 30 credits at the 300/400 level must be taken at Alvernia University.
Program requirements are subject to change. Contact your admissions counselor for the most up-to-date information.
Dental professionals enjoy an independent career lifestyle and have skills they can use anywhere in the world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dentists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about the average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2024 was $179,210.
Note: The observational hours/shadowing requirement varies from school to school. Refer to individual program admission requirements for details.
With a growing demand of healthcare professionals, Alvernia and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) partnered to help prepare new doctors, dentists and pharmacists. This special Early Acceptance Program (EAP) with LECOM allows students to apply to LECOM medical, dental, or pharmacy school as early as their senior year of high school. Students who meet the requirements in high school are conditionally accepted into both Alvernia and LECOM’s program simultaneously.
Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM) is a private college with locations in Pennsylvania and Florida. Its main campus is located in Erie, PA, with additional locations at LECOM at Seton Hill, in Greensburg, PA and LECOM Bradenton, a branch campus in Florida.
Students already attending Alvernia must meet these criteria to enroll into the Early Acceptance Program.
4 + 4 Track: Students must enroll in the EAP by February 1 of their second year at Alvernia University. After completing four years at Alvernia and meeting GPA and other requirements, students enter LECOM the following July. LECOM graduates will receive a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree and Alvernia will award the graduate with an appropriate bachelor degree.