Student Debt
The ADA is working with lawmakers, education leaders, dental students, and others to help mitigate the alarming levels of educational debt that new dentists face after graduating dental school. This includes reforming parts of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which provides the statutory authority for most federal student loan programs to operate, including those most widely used by dental students.
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Take Action Now!
Use the ADA Legislative Action Center to receive action alerts when grassroots action is needed on upcoming votes. By subscribing and becoming an active member, the ADA Legislative Action Center will allow your voice to be heard at critical moments in the legislative process.
Make your voice heard on important legislation affecting oral health and dental care.
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Priorities
- Lower the interest rates on federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.
- Reinstate eligibility for graduate and professional degree students to use federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans to finance their graduate education.
- Permit federal graduate student loans to be refinanced more than once so that new dentists can take advantage of lower interest rates when economic conditions are more favorable.
- Halt the accrual of interest while a student is completing an internship or residency and cap total amount of interest that can accrue overall.
- Extend the deferment period until after new dentist has completed his or her medical/dental internship or residency.
- Simplify and add more transparency to the federal graduate student loan application process.
- Remove the barriers that prohibit those with private graduate student loans from taking advantage of federal student loan forgiveness/service payback programs.
- Encourage institutions of higher education and lenders to offer training to help students make informed decisions about how to finance their graduate education.
The Association's priorities are based on the major policies and positions (PDF) (Members Only) adopted by the ADA House of Delegates.
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In Congress
- September 5, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 4001, the Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act.
- April 26, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to address several key issues in legislation to reauthorize the student assistance provisions (Title IV) in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- April 26, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to address several key issues in legislation to reauthorize the student assistance provisions (Title IV) in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- April 26, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to favorably report H.R. 1614, the Student Loan Refinancing Act.
- March 24, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to address several key issues in legislation to reauthorize the student assistance provisions (Title IV) in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- March 24, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to favorably report H.R. 1614, the Student Loan Refinancing Act.
The Association's positions are based on the major policies and positions (PDF) (Members Only) adopted by the ADA House of Delegates.
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ADA News
Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.
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ADA Student Loan Refinancing Program
Take advantage of the ADA's exclusive student loan refinancing program. Whatever rate you qualify for, your rate will be 0.25 percent lower for the life of the loan as long as you are an ADA member.
Learn more about the ADA Student Loan Refinancing Program.
Contact Government and Public Affairs
Prepared by: Division of Government and Public Affairs
Last Updated: April 12, 2018