University of New Mexico School of Medicine

The Dental Hygiene program at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is a five-semester and one summer semester curriculum that starts in the spring semester. Each class of 24 students is selected through the Division of Dental Hygiene's admissions process.

Student selection is based upon grades in the pre-professional courses, state residency, work experience and a personal interview, whenever possible. Out-of-state applications are considered, but New Mexico residents receive preferential consideration. New Mexicans should be prepared to document state residency if requested to do so

Application Requirements

• Application to UNM Office of Admissions
• Division of Dental Hygiene Application
• Official transcripts of all colleges attended.
• Completion of all prerequisite coursework BEFORE the start of the program.
• A non-refundable application fee (link found on our website), submitted BEFORE the application deadline.
• Verification of shadowing/observing a dental hygienist for at least 20 hours.
• Attendance at at least one Required Advisement session.

Application Instructions

1. Apply for admission to UNM (if not already enrolled). This is a separate admissions process and requires a separate application packet from that of the Division of Dental Hygiene. You must contact the UNM Office of Admissions to obtain the correct information.
   • Apply as a Transfer Student: If you are not currently a UNM student, apply to the University of New Mexico at admissions.unm.edu as a Transfer student enrolling Spring semester.  
   • Complete Paperwork to Transfer to Main Campus: If you are a Branch campus student, please complete the Branch Transition form to move from your Branch campus to main campus in Albuquerque. 
   • If you are already an undergraduate UNM Student: You do not have to apply to UNM. Move to step 2.
2. Complete the Division of Dental Hygiene Application.
   • Official transcripts must be sent. 
   • Answer a question in this application confirming attendance at at least one Required Advisement session in the last academic year. 
   • Upload Shadowing letter in this application. 
   • Candidates are hereby notified that if any document is missing as of the deadline for application, the division cannot consider that candidate. Candidates are strongly encouraged to begin this process early. Be aware that it takes considerable time for documents such as transcripts to be transferred from one institution to another.

More Information

New Mexicans receive preferential consideration. Age, gender, disability, race, religion and/or national origin are not factors in admission considerations.

About transcripts: An overall grade point average of 2.4 or above on a 4.0 scale is required. Applicants without at least a 2.4 GPA will not be considered. A 2.4 GPA does not guarantee acceptance into the program, however.

Students earn clinical experience through coursework in the program.