According to NerdWallet, dental school students graduated with an average of $304,824 in debt in 2020. Though the tuition for dental school differs between dental programs, financing dental school tuition can be a hefty and expensive challenge.
Scholarships are a great way to minimize this overall debt total. Let’s find out which scholarships are best to apply for in order to make the cost of tuition more affordable.
Benefits of a Scholarship
Receiving a scholarship (or better yet, multiple scholarships) is like getting free money to pay for tuition.
You don’t have to pay scholarships off because they are a form of gift aid, as opposed to private student loans and federal student loans, which you’ll need to pay back.
Applying to as many scholarships as you can to pay for dental school is a financially strategic way to avoid racking up student loan debt.
Can I Get Scholarships for Dental School?
You can receive internal scholarships (awarded by your dental program) or external scholarships (awarded by private, professional, or non-profit organizations) for dental school.
Dental school scholarships usually vary in size depending on the institution you are receiving them from.
Can I Get a Full Ride Scholarship for Dental School?
While it is possible to cover your entire tuition for dental school with scholarships, it’s extremely rare. Given how expensive tuition is, you’ll need a substantial amount of scholarship money to cover the whole cost. Full-ride scholarships are typically very competitive, and thus, few students receive them.
You can, however, cover a substantial amount of your dental school expenses with scholarships. But, given how expensive tuition is, it may be challenging to cover the whole cost with scholarships.
Many dental schools award scholarships to their students based on merit and financial need. Depending on your individual financial situation and the campus-based dental scholarship programs, you may be able to secure a decent amount of scholarship money from your school.
If you apply to external scholarships, it will be a lot more difficult to pay your entire tuition. External scholarships are usually extremely competitive and relatively small. And with the average dental school tuition ranging from $53,000 to $70,000 per year, you’ll need quite a few scholarships to cover that amount.
However, this doesn’t discount the fact that external scholarships add up significantly, especially if you are consistently making an effort to apply to as many scholarships as possible.
Eligibility Criteria for Dental Scholarships
The eligibility criteria to receive a dental scholarship is fundamentally the same as the scholarship requirements for undergraduate or graduate programs.
- Be enrolled in an eligible program. Scholarships are usually only awarded to students who are enrolled in an accredited four-year dental program. Make sure to check if the dental program you are enrolled in qualifies you to receive a scholarship.
- Exhibit academic or professional achievement. While some scholarship programs are intended for students of certain minority groups with special interests, or students with financial need, you’ll still want to be a competitive applicant. You’ll want to have a variety of community service, research experience, dental-related work, and extracurricular activities to set you apart as an applicant.
What GPA Do You Need for a Dental Scholarship?
Generally, you’ll want to have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in order to qualify for dental scholarships. However, the higher your GPA is, the more competitive of an applicant you’ll be.
Keep in mind to consider your Science GPA in addition to your cumulative GPA. Your Science GPA is calculated based on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM).
In 2019, it was reported that the average cumulative GPA for dental school students was 3.55 and the Science GPA was 3.45.
Where to Find Dental School Scholarships
Professional Organizations
The American Dental Association is a prestigious professional organization for pre-dental students, dental students, and all dental occupations. The ADA has partnered with organizations like MouthWatch Patti DiGangi, Crest Oral B, and more to offer scholarships to dental students.
The National Dental Association also offers scholarships for a wide range of students, from the Dr. Bessie E. Delaney Scholarship $10,000 Post-Doctoral Scholarship Award to the Dr. Joseph L. Henry First Year Scholarship $2,000 Freshman Scholarship.
Be sure to check out this list of professional dental organizations and see what each organization has to offer in regards to scholarships.
Your University
If you meet the criteria of demonstrated financial need and high merit, the dental school that you are applying to will usually automatically offer scholarships with your financial aid award.
However, dental schools do provide scholarships outside of the ones offered with financial aid awards. For example, there are usually university-specific scholarships, such as a Dental Alumni Association Scholarship, that are funded by previous dental students who have graduated and pursued their health professions in dentistry.
For example, the UNC Adams School of Dentistry and the Washington University Dental Alumni Association, along with many other dental programs, offer annual scholarships to qualified students.
Scholarship applications can be found on your dental school’s website.
Helpful Search Engines
Scholarships.com for Dental Scholarships
Scholarships.com is a database for scholarships that is organized based off of everything from major, to SAT score, to residency. It’s a great place to find dental scholarships as you can create a free profile, find scholarships that are relevant to you, and also obtain assistance in paying tuition.
Sallie Mae’s Scholarship Search Tool
Sallie Mae is a private student loan company that offers a free Scholarship Search tool for undergraduate and graduate students. Make a profile today to find scholarships based on your skills, field of study, and interests!
Bold is the holy grail website for finding scholarships. Offering exclusive scholarships for high school students, undergraduates, and graduates, you can find scholarships based on your experiences, skills, and field of study.
Final Thoughts from the Nest
While covering the educational costs of dental school with internal and external scholarships is a strenuous challenge, every scholarship counts!
Make sure to apply to as many scholarships as you can and keep in touch with your dental school’s financial aid office.
Once you’ve exhausted your scholarship options, consider taking out a dental school loan.
A dental degree is not as out of reach as it seems!