How To Pay for Dental School in 2025: 6 Strategies To Use

Dental school can be costly — and many dental students need financial assistance to pay for school. The average dental school student pays between $170,000 and $304,000 for their education, according to the American Dental Association.

Fortunately, there are many ways to ease this financial burden — both in school and afterward. Here's what you need to know about paying for your dental education.

Current private student loan rates

How much does dental school cost?

The cost of dental school depends on many factors, including the school and program you choose, as well as where you live.

“Tuition rates will vary by school, especially since there are variances between public and private education,” says Carolyn Booker, senior chief of education services at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

“The cost of a dental education depends on many factors, which often include fees for dental instruments, materials, technology, etc. Also, professional schools include living expenses as a part of the total cost of attendance,” she explains.

In the 2024-25 school year, the average cost of dental school tuition for an in-state resident was $236,538 across all four years, according to data from the American Dental Association. For non-residents, the average was over $300,000. Costs also vary depending on whether a school is public or private.

The table below provides an overview of the average tuition for public and private dental schools:

What are the best ways to pay for dental school?

There are many ways to help cover the costs of dental school if you don't have the funds on hand.

“Dental students depend on a variety of options to finance their dental education, including loans, grants, and scholarships,” says Booker. “The good news is that the average educational debt for graduating dental students with debt has declined the past two years.”

According to data from the American Dental Education Association, the average dental school student graduated with $312,700 in debt in 2024. If you need help paying for your dental education, these options can help:

• Personal savings: If you or your parents have savings to put toward school costs, this can reduce the amount of student loans you need to borrow and, subsequently, the interest you pay.
• Grants and scholarships: These are forms of free aid that have no interest charges and don't need to be repaid. You can get them from your school or various private companies, organizations, and trade groups.
• Federal work-study program: Work-study is a federal aid program that allows students to earn money toward their educational costs through part-time jobs. Work-study jobs are often on campus or related to your field of study.
• Federal student loans: As a graduate student, you can borrow up to $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, up to an aggregate limit of $138,500 (including any undergraduate federal loans). You can also take out a grad PLUS loan, which allows you to borrow up to the cost of your school's attendance. Note that a law enacted in July 2025 made changes to graduate student borrowing starting in July 2026. The law eliminates grad PLUS loans. However, the same law raised the annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit to $50,000 per year for professional students, and the aggregate limit to $200,000.
• Private student loans: These are loans from private lenders. You'll need to undergo a credit check to qualify for private loans, and you may need to add a cosigner to your application to qualify. Some lenders, including College Ave and Sallie Mae, offer private student loans designed specifically for dental students.

Always start by using savings or exploring free aid first. After that, your best option is typically federal student loans, as they have more repayment options and don't require a cosigner or good credit. In some cases, you can even have your loans forgiven.

“Make sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as it's used to unlock federal grants, aid, and loans,” says Dan Kennedy, chief marketing officer at College Ave, which offers dental school student loans.

“Even if you don't think you will qualify, filling out the form is important, as some states and schools use it to determine aid,” he adds.

Once you've exhausted your federal options, you may want to turn to private student loans. In some cases, private student loans may be more affordable than Direct PLUS Loans, Kennedy says, though it depends on your credit.

“Private graduate student loans may offer a better interest rate for borrowers with good credit,” notes Kennedy.

What scholarships and grants are available for dental students?

You can often apply for scholarships and grants with the specific dental school you're attending. A plethora of industry, trade, and professional organizations offer them, too.

“Like many industries, there are scholarships that are unique to the industry or field,” says Jack Wang, a student loan and financial adviser at Innovative Advisory Group. “An example is the scholarships offered by the National Dental Association.”

A few sources for dental school scholarships include:

• American Dental Education Association (up to $5,500)
• Dental Trade Alliance (up to $25,000)
• Hartford Dental Society
• Indian Health Service
• National Dental Association Foundation (up to $2,000)

You can also ask your employer about potential scholarships, use state-based programs where you live, or look to private companies that offer them, such as Colgate and Proctor & Gamble.

Are there loan repayment assistance or forgiveness programs for dental students?

If you end up taking out loans, there are many options that can assist with repayment or even pay off your loans entirely, in some cases.

Some resources to consider include:

• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program: This program offers up to $55,000 in tax-free loan repayment if you serve full-time as a dentist for at least 2 years at a National Health Service Corps site in a health professional shortage area.
• U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps: Newly commissioned dentists who sign a 4-year agreement with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps can get up to $75,000 in signing bonuses, which can be used to pay off student debt. 
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA's Education Debt Reduction Program offers up to $40,000 per year, or $200,000 over 5 years, to dentists serving in the Veterans Health Administration. There's also a Student Loan Repayment Program that offers up to $40,000 per year in repayment assistance.
• Military programs: There are loan repayment programs for Army, Navy, and Air Force members who meet certain service requirements. Some offer up to $40,000 per year in assistance.

Many states also have loan repayment programs for dentists. The American Dental Association provides a full breakdown of all the student loan repayment options that might be available to you.

What are smart borrowing tips for dental school?

If you need to borrow money for dental school, do so carefully and with a plan for repayment in mind.

You should make sure to:

• Borrow only what you need: Take your time calculating how much your education will cost and how much you need to borrow to cover it. This will help minimize what you borrow and the interest you pay.
• Compare interest rates and terms: Always compare your different financing options, especially if using private student loans. Rates and fees can vary significantly between lenders.
• Make interest payments during school if possible: Many lenders allow you to defer payments until after you graduate. But if you're able to make interest-only payments or full payments during school, this can reduce your balance faster and lower the total amount of interest you pay in the long run.

If you need help understanding your school costs or guidance on how to cover them, talk to your school's financial aid office.