When Baylor College of Dentistry was founded as State Dental College in 1905, a three-year dental education (including equipment and supplies) cost less than $600. Today, the cost of tuition, equipment and supplies for a four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery degree totals more than $51,000. With living expenses, the average debt at graduation exceeds $96,000. Tuition and supplies for the two years spent at the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene total more than $12,000. Average debt of dental hygiene graduates is more than $23,000. This is in addition to debt accumulated during required undergraduate preparation prior to professional school.

The rising cost of dental education and an increasing need for dentists and dental hygienists are reasons why BCD hopes to increase scholarship funds significantly during our Centennial and 50th anniversary celebrations.