The FAFSA and dental school loan checklist

Federal loans no longer cover the full cost of dental school. This checklist walks you through applying, borrowing and planning repayment, in order, so a missed step does not cost you thousands of dollars.

Last updated October 1, 2026

The 2026 federal limits at a glance

Grad PLUS: Eliminated. You can no longer borrow up to the full cost of attendance from the federal government.
Annual cap: $50,000 a year in Direct Unsubsidized loans for professional students. Prorated if you are below full-time.
Professional school cap: $200,000 in total.
Lifetime cap: $257,500, including loans from undergraduate study.
Already enrolled?: If you received a federal loan in your degree program before June 30, 2026, you are temporarily exempt from the new limits in that same program, until the sooner of three academic years or finishing the degree.

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1. Apply for federal aid, every year

Create or confirm your StudentAid.gov account and FSA ID. You use your own, not a parent's.
Find the FAFSA for your school year on StudentAid.gov. It usually opens in the fall; check the site for the exact date.
Ask your school's financial aid office for its deadline. It is often earlier than the federal one, and missing it can cost you aid.
Have your tax information ready. Graduate and professional students apply as independent students.
List every school you are applying to or attending so each one receives your FAFSA.
File again every year. Aid does not carry over.

2. Work out your gap

Get your school's cost of attendance for the year. The ADA puts the 2026-27 national average near $88,000.
Subtract the federal cap. At that average, the gap is about $38,000 a year, or about $150,000 over four years.
Ask the aid office what scholarships, institutional aid or payment plans your school offers.
Look at funding that is not a loan: NHSC scholarship, military HPSP, state programs, savings and family help.
Run your numbers in the planner so you see what the gap costs if it is borrowed privately.

3. Before you sign for any loan

For your first federal Direct Loan, complete entrance counseling and sign the Master Promissory Note.
Remember that interest on Direct Unsubsidized loans builds up while you are in school.
Borrow only what you need, not the maximum you are offered.
For private loans, compare at least a few lenders: fixed or variable rate, cosigner release, fees, and what happens if you cannot pay.
Know what you give up. Private loans have no income-based plan, no forgiveness and no PSLF.
Keep copies of every loan agreement and aid offer.

4. While you are in school

Re-check your plan each year. Costs, aid and your loan mix change.
If your circumstances change, ask the aid office whether you can request a review of your aid.
If you can, pay some interest while in school to keep the balance from growing.
Keep your address, phone and email up to date with your loan servicer.

5. Before repayment starts

Find out when your grace period ends and who your servicer is.
Compare repayment plans, including the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), the Tiered Standard plan and PSLF if you plan to work for a nonprofit or government employer.
Do not refinance federal loans until you have compared plans. It cannot be undone.
Decide how to handle private loans: extra payments, or refinancing for a lower rate.

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the school's FAFSA deadline, or not filing every year.
Assuming federal loans will cover the whole cost of attendance.
Leaving private loans out of the repayment plan, so the true monthly payment is understated.
Not realizing interest accrues on unsubsidized loans during school.
Choosing a repayment plan, or refinancing federal loans, before comparing the options.
Misreading the exemption for students who already had a federal loan before June 30, 2026.

See what your loans will cost

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Frequently asked questions

Do dental students still use the FAFSA?

Yes. The FAFSA is still how you apply for federal loans. What changed is the limit: from July 1, 2026, professional students can borrow up to $50,000 a year, and Grad PLUS is gone.

How much can a dental student borrow from the federal government?

Up to $50,000 a year in Direct Unsubsidized loans, with a $200,000 limit for professional school and a $257,500 lifetime limit that includes undergraduate loans.

What if federal loans do not cover my whole cost?

The remaining gap has to come from other sources: scholarships, savings, family, service programs such as NHSC or military HPSP, or private loans. Private loans usually do not have income-based repayment, forgiveness or PSLF.

I already had a federal loan before June 30, 2026. Do the new limits apply to me?

You are temporarily exempt while enrolled in the same degree program, until the sooner of three academic years or finishing the degree. Confirm your situation with your financial aid office.

Keep reading

Dental student loan guide, step by step
Compare every repayment plan side by side
Should a dentist refinance student loans?

Sources: StudentAid.gov: Apply for federal student aid; StudentAid.gov: Public Service Loan Forgiveness; American Dental Association: Student Loan Resource Guide (June 2026). General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Deadlines, dates and rules change, so confirm them with your school's financial aid office and StudentAid.gov. FAFSA is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Education, and Path to Dentist is not affiliated with it.