Take a look at the top 10 questions every incoming dental school student should ask about financing their dental education.
Educational Debt
The most recently reported average educational debt for indebted dental school graduates of the class of 2025 is $297,800.
Good news
- Dental school graduates have a great reputation for timely repayment.
- The average educational debt for graduating dental students with debt has declined the past two years.
- You can borrow up to $50,000 per year with a federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
- Dental school graduates typically enter the income stream after graduation faster than other health professions colleagues, which may allow for aggressive repayment.
- It is easier than ever to track your federal student loans at StudentAid.gov.
- You may graduate with multiple federal loans, but they are likely going to be serviced by just one loan servicer, which for many negates the need to consolidate after graduation.
- Refinancing at a lower rate with a private lender after graduation is now an option for many dental school graduates.
- Accrued and unpaid interest no longer capitalizes at the start of repayment.
Not so good news
- Direct PLUS (Grad PLUS) is not an option for dental students starting their program on or after July 1, 2026, which means you may have to borrow private student loans to help meet your educational costs each year.
- Your entire student loan portfolio will likely be unsubsidized, with interest accruing from time of disbursement. This means the balance at repayment will be higher than the actual amount you initially borrowed.
- Interest rates on new Direct Unsubsidized Loans are fixed and change each year, with the maximum rate a high 9.5%. The interest rate on new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 is 8.07% fixed for direct unsubsidized, which is all the more reason to never borrow more than you really need.
- There have been significant changes to borrowing and repayment based on legislation passed in July 2025. This includes the elimination of Direct PLUS loans and new annual and aggregate federal loan limits, both with an effective date of July 1, 2026. Please see Types of Loans for details.