UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry offers a full-time, entry-level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Applicants complete 62 prerequisite hours, at least 20 hours shadowing a registered dental hygienist, the required Casper test and a committee-selected personal interview. The program combines classroom study with clinical training.
- Program
- Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
- Credential
- BS
- Location
- Houston, Texas, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Length
- Four semesters plus a summer term
Casper Requirement for UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.
- Languages
- English
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Casper is required. Test sittings and the score-distribution deadline for the next application cycle have not been published.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene Application Deadlines 2027-2028
- Apply through
- UTHealth Houston online application
The next intake's application dates have not been published. The Registrar lists an annual spring-to-summer application window and requires prerequisites to be completed before fall enrollment.
UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene Admissions Statistics
Period: Dental Hygiene Class of 2028 (entered 2026)
- Applicants: 109
- Interviewed: 61
- Admitted: 32 new students
- Average GPA: 3.321
- Average science GPA: 3.40
- Texas residents: 32
These figures describe a previous entering Dental Hygiene class; they are not selection thresholds for future applicants.
Eligibility Requirements for UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
- Degree / credits
Complete 62 semester hours of specified prerequisite coursework at another college or university for entry to the BSDH program. The degree requires 129 semester credit hours in total.
- Language proficiency
TOEFL is required if you attended high school outside the United States.
Complete the specified prerequisite courses at another college or university. The admissions committee evaluates completed coursework and gives preference to applicants with recent coursework.
Other requirements
- High school completion: Graduate from an accredited high school or hold an equivalent credential.
- Shadowing form: Document at least 20 hours shadowing a registered dental hygienist and submit the form with the application.
Selection Factors UTHealth Houston Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| English Composition I and II | 6 hours |
| Speech | 3 hours |
| College Math or higher | 3 hours |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 hours Lab required |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 hours Lab required |
| Chemistry | 4 hours Lab required |
| Microbiology | 4 hours Lab required |
| General Psychology | 3 hours |
| Sociology | 3 hours |
| U.S. History | 6 hours May include 3 hours of Texas History |
| U.S. Government | 3 hours |
| Texas Government | 3 hours |
| Computer Science | 3 hours Lab required; POFI and ITSC workforce courses are not accepted |
| Humanities | 3 hours |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 3 hours |
| Nutrition | 3 hours |
| Electives | 4 hours No PE or remedial courses |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Cumulative GPA, with strength in science prerequisites considered during selection
- Minimum
- 2.5
Earn at least a C in each required course and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. The school does not state a competitive cutoff.
Admissions tests
- TOEFL (required for some applicants): Required if you attended high school outside the United States.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
Complete at least 20 hours of shadowing a registered dental hygienist and submit the shadowing form with the application.
Supplementary application
Submit three recommendation letters: two from professors and one from an employer. Submit the required dental-hygienist shadowing form with the application.
How applicants are ranked
The admissions committee evaluates prerequisites, science performance, Casper and personal interviews. It also considers leadership, service, communication, employment, healthcare experience and adversity. Texas residents, BSDH applicants and applicants with recent coursework receive preference.
Interview Format at UTHealth Houston
A personal interview is required for applicants selected by committee evaluation. The school has not specified a panel, MMI, behavioral-question or scenario-question format.
- Who is invited
- Applicants selected after admissions committee evaluation
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
- Program length
- Four semesters plus a summer term
- Structure
Full-time, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competency-based assessments with hands-on clinic experience from day one.
- Campuses
- UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
The full-time BSDH combines preclinical technique, radiology, oral disease prevention, clinical practice, periodontology and community dental health. Eligible students may separately apply for the BSDH/MPH pathway after their first semester.
Campus and facilities
The program is based at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, 7500 Cambridge St., Houston, TX 77054, with clinical training at the dental school.
Tuition and Funding at UTHealth Houston
- 2026-2027 Texas-resident tuition: $187 per credit hour, before fees
- 2026-2027 nonresident tuition: $639 per credit hour, before fees
These are the latest published rates, not rates for the next entering class. Additional program and university fees apply.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe the program as delivering strong clinical training in a supportive environment, with access to a low-cost clinic charging just $20 for exams, x-rays, and cleanings supervised by registered dental hygienists. Students report that fulfilling prerequisites early positions you favorably among peers. Matriculated students note Houston's clinical training rivals higher-volume sites like San Antonio, preparing you for licensure. Students recommend clinic services to uninsured friends and family.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene Application
- Plan the 62 specified prerequisite hours and earn at least a C in each course.
- Complete at least 20 hours shadowing a registered dental hygienist and submit the form.
- Arrange two professor recommendations and one employer recommendation.
- Register for Casper when the school publishes sittings for your intake.
- Review your application and prepare for a personal interview if invited.
More About UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
- Accreditation
Accredited Bachelor of Science program matching university dental curricula
- Clinic fees
$20 for exams, x-rays, and cleanings supervised by registered dental hygienists
Frequently Asked Questions About UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
Does UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene require Casper?
Yes. Casper is required; sittings for the next application cycle have not been published.
What is the minimum GPA?
A cumulative 2.5 GPA and at least a C in each required course.
How competitive is admission?
For a recent entering Dental Hygiene class, the school reported 109 applicants, 61 interviews and 32 new students.
What is the interview format?
Selected applicants complete a personal interview; the school does not specify its question format.
How many prerequisites are required?
The BSDH catalog specifies 62 prerequisite semester hours and 129 total hours for graduation.
What is the curriculum schedule?
The full-time program runs four semesters plus a summer term, with classes scheduled weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What does tuition cost?
The latest published tuition is $187 per credit hour for Texas residents and $639 for nonresidents, before additional fees; rates for the next entering class are not published.
Where is the program located?
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, 7500 Cambridge St., Houston, TX 77054.
Can international students apply?
Applicants who attended high school outside the U.S. must submit TOEFL results.
Sources
- UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene (BS) catalog
- UTHealth Houston Registrar application dates
- UTHealth Houston BSDH program
- UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene
- UTHealth Houston Dental Hygiene Class of 2028 figures
- UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry tuition and fees
- UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry student life and address
Last updated: September 26, 2026