Dental Student Loan Repayment Programs and Resources
The following student loan repayment programs and resources are available to newly practicing Dentists. The ADA has compiled the resources as a starting point for dental students and new dentists. Note that other than the noted ADA resources, the ADA does not endorse or sponsor the listed programs and resources.
National Programs
Army
Active Duty Health Profession Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP): You can receive up to $120,000 to pay down your dental school debt. The ADHPLRP provides $40,000 a year for up to three years. This program may be combined with the Health Professions Bonus.
Navy
Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (NHPLRP): Receive up to $120,000 to help repay your dental school loans by applying to receive $40,000 each year for up to three years.* To be eligible, you must serve as an Active Duty Dental Corps Officer for each year you receive the loan payment. Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Dental Recruiter contact you. Sign-on bonuses are also available for practicing dentists from $75,000 to $300,000* when you qualify.
*Offer depends on specialty and service requirement.
Air Force
Air Force Active Duty Health Professions Repayment Program (ADHPLRP): Repayment may consist of loan amounts for principal, interest, and reasonable educational and living expenses. The maximum repayment for 2009 is $40,000.00, less tax liability. Payments are sent directly to the lending institution on behalf of the ADHPLRP participant. Participants incur an active duty obligation (ADO) consisting of a minimum of two years, or one year of ADO for each annual repayment, whichever is greater. Active duty officers can also receive financial aid through the Air Force Tuition Assistance program, the Montgomery GI Bill and the College Loan Repayment Program. Other options include the Airman Education and Commissioning Program (AECP), Scholarship for Outstanding Airman to ROTC (SOAR), Professional Officers Course-Early Release Program (POC-ERP) and the Airmen Scholarship and Commissioning Program (ASCP).
Veteran Affairs
VA Student Loan Repayment Program: Under the VA Student Loan Repayment Program, you may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $60,000, to help you repay your student loans.
Public Health
The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) works in coordination with certain Federal agencies to help ease the financial burden of dental school. USPHS may offer loan repayment and other educational and family support programs. These programs offer up to $75,000 in signing bonuses for newly commissioned dentists that are called to active duty (CAD) on or after January 29, 2008.
National Health and Human Services
The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program: The program provides $50,000 (or the outstanding balance of qualifying student loans if it is less than $50,000) tax free, to primary care medical, dental and mental health clinicians in exchange for two years of service at an approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area. Upon completion of the service commitment, clinicians may be eligible to apply for additional support for extended service.
Indian Health Service
Loan Repayment Program (LRP): The IHS Division of Oral Health offers short and long-term volunteering and career positions, along with loan repayment programs. The LRP will pay participants up to $20,000 per year in exchange for signing a minimum two-year service contract. The LRP will pay an additional 20 percent annually to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to offset the increased tax liability incurred by the participant. Note that the LRP permits only the repayment of health professions educational loans.
State Level Programs
The American Dental Association prepared the following list of repayment programs to give dental students and new practitioners an overview of options. This information is subject to change; contact the programs directly for more information.
| State | Program | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Alabama State Loan Repayment Program |
National Health Service Corps Alabama Department of Public Health |
|
Alaska |
Alaska State Loan Repayment Program: Supporting Health Care Access through Loan Repayment (SHARP) Loan repayment program provides up to $35,000 per year with a two-year commitment. |
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Tel: 907-465-4065 robert.sewell@alaska.gov |
|
Arizona |
Arizona Loan Repayment Program Loan repayment program is provided for a minimum of two years of service and the amount of repayment varies based upon the type of provider and priority ranking of the service site. The award is in addition to the compensation package offered by the employer. |
Arizona Dept of Health Services, Bureau of Health Systems Development Ana Roscetti, Loan Repayment Program |
|
Arkansas |
No Arkansas IHS program | |
|
California |
California State Loan Repayment Program/NHSC Requirements: US citizen with valid California license; free of underserved obligations for service; free of judgments arising from Federal debt; agree to provide FT (40 hours/week) primary care services for at least 2 years in a designated HPSA. The application cycle is open until funds are expended. Contracts will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the State Loan Repayment Program website for the application and more information. |
OSHPD/HWDD State Loan Repayment Program Healthcare Workforce Development Division Julie Montoya, Program Administrator Tel: 916-326-3785 or 916-326-3745 SLRP@oshpd.ca.gov or julie.montoya@oshpd.ca.gov |
|
Colorado |
Colorado Dental Loan Repayment Program CO Dental Professional Loan Repayment Program |
Colorado Dental Loan Repayment Program CO Dental Professional Loan Repayment Program |
|
Connecticut |
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Connecticut State Loan Repayment Program Program |
National Health Service Corps Tel: 800-221-9393 http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/ |
|
District of Columbia |
DC Loan Repayment Program Applicants that are District residents and graduates of DC schools are given priority to be accepted for loan repayment. Applicants are required to serve a minimum of two years, with an option to extend their service two additional years. Maximum award is $120,000 for four years of service. |
DC Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Tel: 202-442-9168 HPLRP@dc.gov http://dcpca.org |
|
Delaware |
Delaware State Loan Repayment Program Health professionals participating in this program must provide health services in a practice setting approved by the Delaware Health Care Commission. Initial contracts may be signed for a minimum of two (2) years and maximum of three (3) years. Participants may re-apply for contract extensions in one-year increments, not to exceed a total of four (4) years of loan repayment. Average awards range from $25,000 to $35,000 for a two year commitment |
Loan Repayment Coordinator Delaware Health Care Commission Margaret O'Neill Building Tel: 302-739-2730 http://dhcc.delaware.gov/ |
|
Florida |
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program | National Health Service Corps Tel: 800-221-9393 http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/ |
Resources
3RNet
The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) helps health professionals find practice opportunities in rural and underserved areas throughout the country. Any rural health facility - hospital, clinic, health center, IHS facility, or private practice - can post job openings in primary care to the Rural Recruitment and Retention (3RNet) Web site. http://www.3rnet.org
ADA Department of State Government Affairs (SGA)
SGA tracks state-level loan repayment programs and other financial incentives to practice by state. In addition, SGA monitors the legislative environment and produces a State Legislative Report and other advocacy related news. You can access this information on www.ada.org or contact govtpol@ada.org.
American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
ADEA is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. Listed below are a handful of student loan resources available on ADEA's Web site.
ADEA.org: Financing a Dental Education
In this section, you'll find a PDF of State and Federal Loan Repayment Programs as well as a comprehensive resource on financing a dental education as part of the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.
ADEA.org: Faculty Loan Repayment and Grant Programs
In this section, you'll find links to a number of loan repayment and grant programs designed for faculty. Examples of the programs include HRSA Health Professions Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) and the HRSA Minority Faculty Fellowship Program (MFFP).
Dental Schools
Many dental schools and advanced programs may have financial assistance and loan repayment programs. Contact your school's financial aid office for more information. For a list of dental schools, visit ADA.org: Dental Education Schools & Programs.
Health Workforce Information Center
The Health Workforce Information Center is a comprehensive online library that will help you find and stay up-to-date on:
- Health workforce programs and funding sources
- Workforce data, research and policy
- Educational opportunities and models
- News and events
Constituent (State) Dental Societies
State dental societies may have information on state legislation affecting loan repayment or track programs in your area. Contact your society staff for more information.
