Dear fellow alumni and friends of the School of Dentistry,
Over the last few weeks, we had an opportunity to speak with the Board of Governors of the WVU School of Dentistry Alumni Association as well as several dental organizations and local societies across the state. There is one common theme with all of our engagements — there is a strong partnership and commitment with a dedicated focus on enhancing our profession and the support we provide to the people of West Virginia.
At each opportunity, we provide an update on our ongoing and planned renovations as well as admissions, faculty recruitment, and student experiences, including the financial considerations associated with attending dental school. The average cost (tuition, books, fees, and instruments) at our school is on par with national costs. For the Class of 2026, 36 of 48 (75%) borrowed a combined $10.4 million to finance their education, resulting in an average debt of $290,000 among those who borrowed. These numbers mirror the average national debt for dental school graduates and reinforce the importance of our commitment to supporting student success and access to the profession.
Today, at our annual Scholarship Recognition Ceremony, we will award approximately $422,000 in scholarships to our dental and dental hygiene students thanks to the generosity of many of our friends and supporters. Your ongoing strong support of scholarships is making a difference in the lives of our students.
We want to extend an open invitation to all of you to stop by and visit our school when you are in town. We would enjoy showing you our completed phase one renovations and the impact it is making on our students’ educational experience. We would also enjoy showing you our phase two plan and timeline — it is truly a generational change for our school, our students, and our patients.
Thank you for all you do for our School and especially for our students and those entrusted to our care.
Lead well at every engagement. Glad to be here. Let’s Go!
Stephen Pachuta
Dean