Dental School Rankings are important for numerous reasons. Dental students must consider many factors when choosing a dental school, whether it is an accredited college, course program, location, student population, faculty size, tuition cost or any other factor. The LECOM system is composed of six separate dental colleges with three campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Even though there are various sources of information on the internet that isn’t always accurate, the information contained in this article will show you everything you need to know about lecom dental school ranking. On collegelearners you will be provided with informations on the following : lecom dental school ranking; nyu dental school ranking, dental school rankings 2020 u s news, university of the pacific dental school ranking, and best dental schools in florida.

lecom dental school ranking

15 Best Dental Schools in Florida

1. University of Florida
   The University of Florida (UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. UF is among the best public universities in America.

Established in 1972, the University of Florida College of Dentistry is the only publicly-funded dental school in Florida. UF College of Dentistry is a national leader in dental education, research, patient care, and community service.

The University of Florida College of Dentistry offers 16 degree and certificate programs, some of these programs include:

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
DMD/Ph.D. dual program
Advanced education in General Dentistry
Endodontics
Operative and Esthetic Dentistry
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Orthodontics
Pediatric Dentistry
Periodontics
Prosthodontics.

2. Nova Southeastern University
   Nova Southeastern University is a private research university, with its main campus in Davie, Florida. Founded in 1964, as Nova University of Advanced Technology.

Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine is the first dental college established in Florida.

The College offers the following programs:

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry
Endodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Orthodontics
Pediatric Dentistry
Periodontology
Advanced Speciality Program in Prosthodontics.

Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine also offers continuing education programs, recognized by ADA CERP.

3. Florida National University (FNU)
   Florida National University is a private for-profit university in Hialeah, Florida, established in 1982. It has three campus locations and an online learning option.

FNU offers both undergraduate and continuing education programs, which include:

Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Dental Laboratory Technology, A.S.
Dental Laboratory Technician, C.E.D
Dental Laboratory Technician – Full and Partial Dentures, C.E.D
Dental Laboratory Technician – Crown and Bridge and Porcelain, C.E.D
Dental Assistant.

4. Gulf Coast State University (GCSC)
   Gulf Coast State University is a public college located in Panama City, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

GCSC offers 3 dental programs, which include:

Dental Assisting, V.C.
Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Dental Medicine Option, Liberal Arts, A.A.
The Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs offered by GCSC were initiated in 1970 and 1996, respectively.

5. Sante Fe College
   Sante Fe College is a public college located in Gainesville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

Health Sciences at Santa Fe College consists of Allied Health, Nursing, and Dental programs.

Sante Fe College offers the following dental programs:

Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Dental Hygiene Bridge, A.S.
Dental Assisting, C.T.C.

6. Eastern Florida State College
   Eastern Florida State College, formerly known as Brevard Community College, is a public college in Brevard County, Florida. It is a member of the Florida College System.

Eastern Florida State College offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assisting Technology and Management, A.S.
Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Dental Assisting, A.T.D.

7. Broward College
   Broward College is a community college located in Broward County. It is one of the nation’s leading colleges for students seeking rewarding healthcare careers.

Broward College offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assisting, A.S.
Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Dental Assisting, A.T.D.

8. Hillsborough Community College
   Hillsborough Community College is a public community college located in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is among the Florida College System.

Founded in 1968, Hillsborough Community College is currently the fifth largest community college in Florida’s State College System.

HCC offers the following dental programs:

Dental A.A. pathway
Dental Assisting, PSAV
Dental Assisting, A.S.

9. South Florida State College (SFSC)
   South Florida State College is a public college in Florida, with campuses in Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee counties, and Lake Placid. It is part of the Florida College System.

South Florida State College offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assistant, C.C.
Dental Hygiene, A.S.

10. Indian River State College
    Indian River State College is a public college with its main campus in Fort Pierce, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

Indian River State College offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assisting Technology and Management, A.S.
Dental Hygiene, A.S.

11. Daytona State College (DSC)
    Daytona State College is a public college located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

Daytona State College is the premier source for educational and advanced training in Central Florida.

DSC School of Dental Science offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assisting (certificate)
Dental Hygiene, A.S.

12. Palm Beach State College (PBSC)
    Founded in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college. Palm Beach State College is also the fourth largest of the 28 colleges in the Florida College System.

PBSC offers the following dental programs:

Dental Assisting, CCP
Dental Hygiene, AS.

13. Florida SouthWestern State College
    Florida SouthWestern State College is a public college with its main campus in Fort Myers, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

Its School of Health Professions offers two dental programs, which include:

Dental Hygiene, A.S.
Local Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist (continuing education program).

14. LECOM School of Dental Medicine
    Lake Eric College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is a private medical college in Florida. LECOM is a leader in medical education.

LECOM School of Dental Medicine offers a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program. The DMD program prepares students for the practice of general dentistry through a unique and innovative curriculum.

15. Valencia College
    Valencia College is a community college founded in 1967, with locations in Orange and Osceola counties.

Its Allied Health Division, located in Orlando, Florida, offers a Dental Hygiene program.

The Dental Hygiene Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program at Valencia College is a two-year program that prepares you to go directly into a specialized career as a dental hygienist.

Valencia College’s dental hygiene program was established in 1977 and graduated its charter class of 23 students in 1978.

how much is lecom dental school

Tuition, fees and other charges are due and payable by registration unless special arrangements have been made with the Accounting Office. In addition to tuition and fees, students will be billed for mandatory Student Disability Insurance, Student Health Insurance and Student Government charges. The College reserves the right to change tuition, fees and other charges without advance notice and to make such changes applicable to present as well as future students.

Application Fee (LECOM Supplementary Application): $50

Nonrefundable fee payable upon submission of supplementary application for admission.

Matriculation Fee: $2,000

Nonrefundable fee due 30 days after receipt of acceptance. The matriculation fee is applied toward the tuition fee upon matriculation.

2022 – 2023 Tuition, Fees and Other Charges

LECOM School of Dental Medicine – Bradenton

	Florida Residents and Non-Residents
Tuition – DS1 & DS2 (2025 & 2026)	$57,360
Tuition – DS3 & DS4 (2023 & 2024)	$57,075
Curriculum Fee	$350
Technology Fee	$300
Graduation Fee (DS 3-4)	$300
Additional Fees
Late Tuition Payment Fee	$50 Per Week
Breakage Fee	Cost of Replacement
Student ID Replacement Fee	$25
Transcript Fee	$10
Other Charges – Mandatory
Student Government	$50
Student Disability Insurance	$695 (Variable/Age Dependent)
Student Health Insurance	$4,623
Living Expenses*
DMD1	$41,185
DMD2	$39,814
DMD3	$37,742
DMD4	$34,285

*The Cost of Education Budget is the sum of Living Expenses, Tuition, Mandatory Fees and Other Mandatory Charges.  Living Expenses include:  books and dental equipment, lab supplies, rent, food, utilities, cell phone, internet, books and lab supplies, transportation expenses, any required board exam fees.  Additional Fees are not included.

School of Dental Medicine Graduation Outcomes

LECOM On-Time Graduation Rates, NBDE Level 1 and 2 Pass Rates, and ADEX CDCA Mannequin, Clinical, and Computer Diagnostic Skills Exams Pass Rates

Policy regarding methods used to collect and review information on student outcomes and licensure pass rates: Data regarding student pass rates on licensure exams is collected annually from national licensing bodies and is posted to LECOM’s website. This information is collected and reviewed by the Dean of each respective program and the Provost of the institution. Once the data has been reviewed and confirmed, it is approved by the Office of Communications and Marketing for use on the LECOM.edu website, as well as in recruitment materials.

As part of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (LECOM) policy on graduation and licensure, the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) provides the following information regarding its graduation and licensing exam first-time pass rates. While this information is not required by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) for purposes of accreditation, LECOM’s policy is to provide this information to the public, including current and prospective students. The LECOM SDM offers a 4-year Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program in Bradenton, FL. The SDM monitors outcomes of its graduates using on-time graduation rates, as well as pass rates for the National Board of Dental Examiners (NBDE) Level 1 and 2 Exams, and the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Commission of Dental Competency Assessment (CDCA) Mannequin, Clinical, and Computer Diagnostic Skills Exams.

LECOM SDM On-Time Graduation Rates

Percentage of Graduates	2016	2017
100%	100%

NBDE Level 1 and 2, First-Time Pass Rates

	2016	2017	2018
NDBE Level 1	96%	99%	98%
NDBE Level 2	91%	90%	N/A

ADEX CDCA Mannequin, Clinical, and Computer Diagnostic Skills Exams, First-Time Pass Rates*

	2016	2017
Mannequin	64%	74%
Clinical	84%	88%
Computer Diagnostic	91%	90%

Is LECOM A Good Medical School? (Major Pros & Cons)

Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is the largest medical college in the US and the only Academic Health Center for Osteopathy. With branch campuses in Florida and New York, its 2,200 medical student intake is certainly impressive.

But do its numbers point to its quality?

We did some digging and here’s what we found out.

Is LECOM A Good Medical School? 

Yes, LECOM is a good medical school. Boasting a 98.1% COMLEX pass rate, flexible entry pathways (optional MCAT), and cheaper than average tuition fees ($37,000), for many students, it’s a solid choice. Possible downsides like its group interview format and its strict dress code might not make it for everyone, however. 

LECOM: The Positives 

Based on our research, here’s what we found to be the main positives of LECOM that make for its reputation as a good school.

1. Good Faculty Student Ratio At 1:1 

This better allows students to speak and form relationships with their professors and feel more comfortable discussing topics and answering questions. That’s not only something that can help improve grades but also help secure great letters of recommendation (LOR) for future residency applications.

2. Flexible Entry Pathways 

LECOM is one of few institutions that accept an alternative to the MCAT.

They want a minimum Academic Index Score of 123 and a GPA higher than 2.7 to meet the entry requirements.

3. Reasonable Tuition

LECOM is a private family-run institution.

For 2020-2021, the undergraduate tuition fees were $37,000 per year – a lot cheaper than the $60,000 private school average.

4. Wide Campus Choice And A Customizable Curriculum 

Attending LECOM, you have a choice of several campuses; Erie and Greensburg in Pennsylvania, Bradenton in Florida, or Elmira in New York.

The school also offers 3 major learning pathways: 

1. Lecture directed pathway: Mandatory lectures from Monday to Friday (8 to 4). Certain modules are self directed. As you progress through the years, you have more self-study time and fewer mandatory classes.
2. Problem based learning: Self learning and regular meet ups with a PBL team and a professor to review progress.
3. Directed Study Pathway: A mix of the above 2 options.
   
   The Erie campus gives a choice of all learning pathways while Greensburg, Bradenton and Elmira use PBL only.

For more on how medical school curriculums work, see this article: Medical School Curriculum Types (What’s The Best?)

5. Clubs And Extracurriculars

There are many clubs and organizations to get involved in for each study program.

Students can also serve the community through activities like public screenings and volunteering. 

6. Diversity 

The Diversity in the Higher Education Magazine ranked LECOM #14 for the highest diversity among doctorate-granting institutions.

7. Teaching Hospitals 

LECOM is the ONLY osteopathic medical school with its own teaching hospitals: Millcreek Community Hospital, Corry Memorial Hospital, and Warren General Hospital. 

That means students get a ton of clinical practice and opportunity.

8. Regular Monthly Exams 

LECOM challenges its students with 3 comprehensive exams every month before board exams.

Students positively report this helping them memorize and apply key concepts in preparation for the real thing.https://02c939e9c8ee9f3ce2eeed1fba84c516.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

9. Accelerated Programs 

The Erie campus’ Primary Care Scholars Pathway allows students to graduate in only 3 years. Graduates will receive a degree equivalent to a traditional 4-year osteopathic medicine (DO) program via this route.

This is in part due to the college’s acknowledgment of a national shortage of primary care physicians, with the goal to increase graduate recruitment into specialties like Family and General Medicine. https://02c939e9c8ee9f3ce2eeed1fba84c516.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

In addition to this, there is also an Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway. This allows Certified Physician Assistants (PA’s) to earn a DO degree in 3 years.

This option is only available at the Greensburg campus.  

10. Board Pass Rates 

LECOM boasts a 98.1% COMLEX pass rate for first-time test-takers.

This is one of the highest figures in the US!

You can view the full list of institutions and pass rates here. 

LECOM: The Negatives 

And while most of our research points to LECOM being reputable and decent, there are some negatives that students and applicants report.

1. No Campus Housing 

LECOM does not provide campus housing but the college does assist in helping students find accommodation nearby.

2. Dress Code

A professional dress code is a prereq for all LECOM’s students. Everyone is required to dress in formal attire on campus at all times.

Depending on how you see it, that can be somewhat restrictive!

3. Weather And Climate

Eerie’s main campus can be a little challenging. Extreme weather conditions are not unusual. Come prepared for snow!https://02c939e9c8ee9f3ce2eeed1fba84c516.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

4. Ranking And Prestige

LECOM’s rank at #93-123 in US News’ Best Medical Schools: Research and #80 for Best Medical Schools: Primary Care isn’t the greatest in the country. But it’s not totally unusual for an osteopathic, rather than an allopathic, medical school.

5. Clinical Rotations 

The organization of clinical rotations is the student’s responsibility. This can be a good or bad thing depending on how diligent and well-prepared students are.

Students are expected to take their own initiative and work independently for the most part (more on this later).

6. Group Interviews 

LECOM’s interview process is a little controversial among its applicants. They work with 9 students at a time and last around an hour. They take the format of brief introductions followed by an ethical debate with a professor on major medical issues.

Some students dislike this format and argue it to be overwhelming managing the interviewer’s expectations while interacting with other students.

The charts and infographics available over at The Student Doctor Network provide more information on student feedback regarding LECOM’s interview process.

Is LECOM A Good Medical School? Reddit’s Opinion 

Finally, Reddit is a great place to go to get an unchecked opinion on how good/bad a school is. In LECOM’s case, commentators had quite a bit to say!

Positive Opinion On LECOM

They Help Students Who Need Further Motivation And A Push To Excel 

“If you are someone that needs a lot of push, a lot of help, a lot of motivation and structure, LECOM is AN EXCELLENT PLACE for you. LECOM actually excels at taking those at the bottom and bringing them up. Yes they are very paternalistic about this process, but it’s unfortunately what [some] misguided students need.”

– u/feartheferrettis 

Good Step 1 Prep 

“At least at the Erie campus, we overall got very good Step 1 prep (some minor exceptions). Our microbiology department was very strong and we routinely do very well on Step 1 microbiology, which is a big part of the exam. One of the main professors was one of the big lecturers for Kaplan Microbiology. There was only a short “dedicated” Step 1 time but it was more than adequate for everyone.

– u/feartheferrettis  

They Prepare You Well For Residency (And Tuition’s A Plus)

“LECOM is strict and makes you work harder than a lot of schools (so many MD schools have a very easy 4th year) but that prepares you well for residency. And the tuition is still a bargain. LECOM is a tightly run business but they offer a really fair tuition compared to so many other schools.”

– u/BodhiDMD 

Negative Opinion On LECOM

Exam Feedback

“We are not allowed to review our exam questions. We only get an automated report based on subjects: i.e.: pathology 85% correct, incorrect subjects include brain tumors, etc. We’ve been told that it’s too inconvenient for the school to allow us all to see the exams.”

– u/Ancient_Discount8850 

Organization And Miscommunication 

“Informing us at the last second about paperwork needed to be done prior to rotations…they gave us 2 weeks to prepare background checks, fingerprints, hours long training, titers, and flu shot information (all at our own cost, except the shot) for rotations,” 

– unt8850  

Of course, it’s important you do your due diligence when it comes to reading about LECOM on Reddit. You’ve also got to appreciate that every school has its good and bad points!

LECOM’s Match Data 

One thing that points to LECOM’s status as a good medical school is its high match rate.

For the Class of 2021, 97% of the 177 participating graduates matched into their chosen specialties. You can see the full list here. 

Note that the highest proportion of students went on to Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. 

How Many Applicants Does LECOM Get?

Only 536 members of the College’s Class of 2017 were chosen from more than 12,000 applicants. That’s still a very competitive acceptance rate despite LECOM’s apparent low ranking.https://02c939e9c8ee9f3ce2eeed1fba84c516.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

How Long Does It Take To Hear Back From LECOM?

It usually takes 2-3 weeks to hear back. That’s standard for most medical schools.

Does LECOM Offer Scholarships? 

The LECOM Student Scholarship Fund is something else that can help back up its credentials as a good medical school. The scholarship helps students ease the financial burden of their education, with $4 million in funds being distributed across the 4 campuses. 

Does LECOM Accept AP Credits? 

They accept both coursework from accredited community colleges (to meet the 90 hours requirement) and AP credit for prerequisites and electives. That’s a huge plus!

Conclusion: Is LECOM A Good Medical School? 

LECOM is a good, affordable option for students looking for more flexible ways into med school. Its high diversity, varied curriculum options, and accelerated programs further add to its credentials.

Of course, it’s not perfect (as the above negatives show) but it does provide a positive student experience for the most part.

Now we’ve covered the main pros and cons, take a look at LECOM’s admissions page here to find out more about what you need to do to get in and how you can apply. Hopefully, that’ll help give you even more of an idea if it’s the right fit for you!

Finally, the video below is also worth checking out and details more on what it’s like becoming a medical student at LECOM…

*Students are not required to take these examinations prior to graduation. Other regional dental licensing exams may be taken; however, this data for other licensing agencies is not tracked by LECOM.

Everyone loves a bright smile!  Now there is a place nearby where anyone can receive professional quality dental care in a state-of-the-art facility at an affordable cost. The LECOM School of Dental Medicine has clinical offices in Pennsylvania and Florida where qualified patients can receive dental care at a reasonable cost.

Early in the curriculum, dental students gain clinical experience working with patients at the group practice office at the Bradenton, Florida campus. The College has established clinical group practices on campus to provide dental care for Floridians who are seeking to obtain needed dental care.

Community-based, senior year outreach group practices provide each student with a year of hands-on clinical training at Dental Offices in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., as well as in Erie, Pa.

At the LECOM Dental Offices, all dental students work under the direct supervision of licensed dentists and use the latest diagnostic tools such as the full mouth and individual tooth digital X-rays.

Each patient has an individual treatment room where they are provided comprehensive, restorative dental care services. This includes cleanings, periodontal treatments, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, dental restorations, and full and partial dental prostheses.

School of Dental Medicine

Erie, PA Dental Clinic

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has seen the continued need for dentists across the nation, including Pennsylvania. The state of Pennsylvania has been identified as a dental provider shortage area. This leads to inadequacies in delivering dental care for individuals and families who are unable to find affordable treatment options, especially for children. To help alleviate that shortage LECOM has opened a dental office at 2000 West Grandview Blvd. where fourth-year dental students will gain clinical experience working in an underserved community.

Bradenton, FL Dental Clinic

The LECOM School of Dental Medicine has opened dental group practice offices to provide patient care at the LECOM Bradenton campus.

The primary role of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine is the training of dentists. This is a teaching institution and not a private dental office. The care performed by LECOM student-dentists is overseen by LECOM faculty and done in a manner that gives priority to education and quality care. This may result in longer appointments for most treatments than would occur in a private dental office.

Defuniak Springs, FL Dental Clinic

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has seen the continued need for dentists across the nation, especially in Florida and the Gulf Coast states. Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of communities designated as Dental Health Shortage Areas. To help alleviate that shortage, LECOM has brought much-needed dental health care to the community of DeFuniak Springs. LECOM opened dental offices at 101 LECOM Way (formerly Microspine Way). The presence of a dental clinic in DeFuniak Springs has improved the health status of the community by providing comprehensive care and general dentistry for all age groups.