The ADA is working with lawmakers, education leaders, dental students and others to mitigate the alarming levels of educational debt that new dentists face after graduating from dental school. This includes reforming parts of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which provides the statutory authority for most federal student loan programs, including those most widely used by dental students.
Student debt
Addressing the burden of student debt faced by dental school graduates.
Advocating for new dentists facing significant educational debt
View our current policies on educational debt.
Explore the myriad of state and federal programs to help pay down your student loans.
Access valuable tools and money-saving resources to help you achieve financial stability.
Learn about the ADA's exclusive student loan refinancing program.
Obtain tips and tricks that peers have used to manage their student debt.
Learn about the ADA Reduced Dues Program for recent dental school graduates.
Advocacy in action
July 19, 2022—Coalition letter (PDF) from the Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) asking the House Committee on Education and Labor to advance student loan reform bills out of committee for consideration by the full House of Representatives. The letters also ask members of the House Committee on Education and Labor to cosponsor student loan reform bills.
July 11, 2022—Letter (PDF) urging the House Education and Labor Committee to advance several student loan reform bills out of committee.
February 28, 2022—Letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 3658, the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (or REDI Act), which would allow dental school graduates to defer payments and forgo interest on their federal student loans until after completing a medical or dental residency.
February 25, 2022—Coalition letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 3658, the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (or REDI Act), which would allow dental school graduates to defer payments and forgo interest on their federal student loans until after completing a medical or dental residency.
February 22, 2022—Letter (PDF) to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in regards to its February 2022 hearing titled “Recruiting, Revitalizing & Diversifying: Examining the Health Care Workforce Shortage.
October 22, 2021—Coalition letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 5602, the Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act of 2021, which would provide federal student loan repayment to those pursuing careers in bio-preparedness and infectious diseases.
September 28, 2021—Coalition letter (PDF) expressing support for supporting H.R. 4631, POST GRAD Act, which would reinstate eligibility for graduate and professional students with financial need to receive Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans.
August 17, 2021—Letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 4631, the Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt Act (POST GRAD Act), which would reinstate eligibility for graduate and professional students with financial need to receive Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans, which are now only available to undergraduate students.
July 30, 2021—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House Ways and Means Committee to support H.R. 1285, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act, would allow full-time faculty members participating in the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program to exclude the loan forgiveness benefit from their federal income taxes.
July 30, 2021—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the the Senate Finance Committee to support S. 449, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act, would allow full-time faculty members participating in the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program to exclude the loan forgiveness benefit from their federal income taxes.
June 28, 2021—Letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 4122, the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (or REDI Act), which would allow dental school graduates to defer payments and forgo interest on their federal student loans until after completing a medical or dental residency.
April 13, 2021—Letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 1918, the Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act, which would provide a chance for federal student loan borrowers to refinance their loans, and for medical and dental residents to defer payments until after completing their residencies.
April 13, 2021—Letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 2160, the Student Loan Refinancing and Act, which would allow federal student loan borrowers to refinance their loans when economic conditions are more favorable.
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