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Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology

A program that focuses on the scientific study of the growth, development, diseases, healing properties, and neurological components of the oral cavity, related tissues and organs, and associated craniofacial areas. Includes instruction in oral microbiology microanatomy, craniofacial pain, humoral aspects of disease, etiology and histology of caries, plaque ecology, wound healing, oral disease epidemiology, oral manifestations of systemic disease, lesions, normal and pathologic physiology, and related molecular and physical studies. Examples: [Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (MS)], [Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (PhD)], [Oral and Craniofacial Biology], [Craniofacial Biology], [Oral Biology and Oral Pathology]

Types of Degrees Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	166
Doctor’s Degree	21

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology graduates include:

• Oral Pathologist
• Maxillofacial Pathology
• Public Health Dentist
• Pediatric Dentist
• Endodontist
• Pedodontist
• Periodontist
• Cosmetic Dentist

Who Is Earning a Degree in Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 61.5% of Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	115	61.5%
Men	72	38.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	64	34.2%
Asian	41	21.9%
Hispanic or Latino	12	6.4%
Black or African American	9	4.8%
Two or More Races	4	2.1%
Race Unknown	3	1.6%
International Students	54	28.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$209,489
4 years	$191,956
5 years	$225,886

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $225,886 — roughly 8% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology Programs

Distance learning are documented by IPEDS for Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Oral Biology/Maxillofacial Pathology graduates earn a median of $191,956 four years after completion — roughly 405% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences	1,981
Dental Clinical Sciences, General	426
Orthodontics/Orthodontology	323
Advanced General Dentistry	238
Endodontics/Endodontology	157
Pediatric Dentistry/Pedodontics	154
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Other	150
Prosthodontics/Prosthodontology	95
Dental Public Health and Education	84
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery	41
Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain	4
Dental Materials	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.