About Path to Dentist

What this is

Path to Dentist estimates what dental school debt will cost under the federal rules that took effect on July 1, 2026. It compares the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Income-Based Repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the standard and tiered standard plans, paying loans off aggressively, and private refinancing — using the borrower's own income, household and balances.

It exists because the rules changed faster than the counseling materials. Grad PLUS closed to new borrowers, federal borrowing is capped, SAVE and PAYE are ending, and the plan a dental student picks in the year after graduation can differ by six figures over its lifetime.

Who builds it

Path to Dentist is a product of xoCaliber Inc. The repayment engine, the rules it relies on and the written guides are maintained in-house, and every federal figure is kept in a single file that is reviewed when the Department of Education, the IRS or HHS publish new numbers.

How it is funded

The tool is free for students and always will be. Revenue comes from institutional licensing: schools, residency programs and student organizations that want a branded version with their own cost of attendance, plus sessions for their classes.

It takes no money from lenders, servicers or refinancing companies. There are no referral fees, no affiliate links and no advertising anywhere in the student experience. A tool that recommends repayment strategies cannot also be paid by the companies whose products it compares.

What it is not

It is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to any university, lender, servicer or government agency — including the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. Results are estimates to take to your servicer, StudentAid.gov and a professional.