How To Get Student Loans for Dental Assistant School in 2025

Dental assisting can be a very rewarding career. According to a 2024 survey from the Dental Assisting National Board, two out of three dental assistants say they are either satisfied or very satisfied with their job.

But becoming a dental assistant requires specific training — and that training comes at a cost. This varies based on the school and program you choose, but you can typically expect to pay at least $1,000 to $3,000 to cover a dental assisting education.

Current private student loan rates

Can you get student loans for dental assistant school?

If you can't pay for dental assistant school out of pocket, student loans are one option to help cover your education. However, your school must participate in the Title IV program in order for you to access federal student loans.

“Schools that are not part of the Title IV system, such as private, for-profit trade schools, would not be able to use federal loans,” says Jack Wang, a college aid adviser at Innovative Advisory Group.

For these institutions, you'd need to use private student loans or an alternate form of financing. We'll dive into each of these options in this article.

Keep Reading: How To Take Out a Student Loan

Federal student loans for dental assistant programs

If you must turn to student loans to pay for your education, then federal student loans should generally be your first choice. These loans come with low, fixed interest rates, a number of payment plans (including income-driven options), and access to loan forgiveness.

There are three main federal student loan options:

• Direct Subsidized Loans: These loans are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and offer up to $5,500 in annual funding (depending on your year in school). Only undergraduate students are eligible for subsidized loans, which offer an interest subsidy during school, your grace period, and any periods of deferment.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Both undergraduate and graduate students can take out unsubsidized loans. You can borrow up to $12,500 per year as an undergraduate and up to $20,500 per year as a graduate or professional student. You're responsible for all interest that accrues from the date of disbursement.
• Direct PLUS Loans: PLUS loans are available to graduate and professional students, as well as parents borrowing on behalf of their children. You can borrow up to your school's cost of attendance (minus other financial aid you've received).

To apply for any of these loans, you'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This requires setting up a StudentAid.gov account, providing information about your income and assets, listing the schools you're interested in attending, and submitting tax information. You can then track your application status and, eventually, accept and receive any aid offered through your Federal Student Aid account.

Private student loans for dental assistant training

Private student loans are a funding route you might explore if you've exhausted your federal student loan options or your school doesn't participate in the Title IV program.

You can look for general private loans or seek out lenders that offer student loans specifically for vocational training or dental assistant school. (Climb Credit, for example, offers dental assistant student loans).

Whatever you do, make sure you compare at least a few lenders, looking at factors like interest rates, loan amounts, fees, repayment terms, and eligibility requirements. You should also consider whether a lender allows for cosigners, as well as a cosigner release option. A cosigner could make it easier to qualify for your loan or even help you get a better interest rate.

Additional ways to pay for dental assistant school

Student loans aren't the only way to pay for dental assistant school. You can also look to scholarships and grants — both are “free money” that doesn't need to be repaid.

“Students should always look for scholarships or grants from the school they are attending first,” says Wang. “After that, students can look for outside scholarships, which are those from industry associations, charities, chambers of commerce, companies in related fields, etc.”

Local dental associations can be a good source of potential scholarships and grants, too. Pacific Dental Services Foundation, for example, offers scholarships of up to $5,000 to dental assisting students. There are also federal Pell Grants provided by the government, which offer up to $7,395 in funding for the 2025-26 academic year.

In addition, you can find out if your current employer offers tuition assistance or reimbursement as part of your benefits package or, if you're a veteran or military service member, use your GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of your education.

Finally, talk to your school's financial aid office. They may have suggestions or allow you to set up a tuition payment plan, which can help you spread out your educational costs and make them more manageable.

Cost of dental assistant school and expected salary

The cost of dental assistant school varies by location, school, and program, as well as any specialty courses you might take along the way. For the most affordable option, you might consider a local community college. At Alvin Community College, for instance, you'll pay just over $3,000 for tuition for the dental assistant program.

Once you've graduated and are employed in the dental assisting field, you can expect to make about $22.74 per hour, or around $47,300 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, keep in mind that this is the median in the United States, and your salary will depend on where you live and your level of experience.

The job outlook is strong for the dental assisting industry, with an expected 8% growth by 2033, which is faster than average.

Tips for borrowing responsibly for dental assistant school

If you need to borrow money for dental assistant school, make sure to run the numbers first. Get an accurate idea of your costs — including supplies — and determine how much you can contribute out of pocket. Then, only borrow what you absolutely need.

You should also exhaust your gift aid options, such as scholarships and grants, before turning to federal loans and then private loans (if necessary).

If you do take out student loans, it's important to read the fine print.

“Know your loans inside and out,” says Bethany Hubert, a financial aid specialist at Going Merry by Earnest. “Don't wait until the last minute to figure out what you owe, and be sure to understand exactly when your grace period ends,” she adds.

Then, if your cash flow allows, set up automatic payments to begin once your grace period is over.

“This ensures bills are paid on time, potentially avoiding late fees and keeping your payment record consistent,” says Hubert.

Some lenders even offer rate discounts for setting up autopay, which could save you money in the long run.