What is the best way to pay for dental school?

Most plans combine several sources: savings and scholarships first, then federal loans, then private loans only for the remaining gap. Borrowing less matters most because it also avoids the interest.

Should I refinance my dental school loans?

Possibly, if you have high stable income, strong credit and no plan to use federal forgiveness. Refinancing federal loans ends RAP, IBR, PSLF and federal hardship options for them, so many dentists wait until their income and plans are clear.

Can dental students still get Grad PLUS loans?

Not for new borrowing after July 1, 2026. New federal loans for professional students are capped at $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total, so some students will need private loans for the remainder.

Do dentists qualify for loan forgiveness?

Yes, in some situations. PSLF applies to qualifying public-service employers, and service-based repayment programs pay down loans for work at approved sites. Income-driven plans also forgive any remaining balance after 30 years under RAP.

How can I lower my payments after graduation?

Choose a plan that fits your income, enroll in auto pay for the interest rate reduction while it is available, and avoid missing income recertification. Compare plans in the planner with your own balance.

Strategy

Student loan strategies for dentists, from first year to practice

Dental school debt is large enough that small choices compound: how much you borrow, which plan you pick in grace, whether you pay interest while in school, and whether you ever refinance. This guide goes stage by stage so you can see which decision matters when.

Last updated October 7, 2026

Rules last reviewed September 2026 · How we calculate · Check StudentAid.gov

Start with the whole picture

Add up four numbers before you pick any strategy: what the whole program costs, what you can pay without borrowing, what federal loans will cover, and what is left. That last figure is your gap, and every strategy below is a way to shrink it or make it cheaper to carry.

Cost varies a lot by school and by residency status, so use the actual figures for the schools you are considering rather than a national average. Our school cost guide and the loan planner put your numbers in one place.

Borrow less

Every dollar you do not borrow also avoids the interest on it, which is the cheapest saving you will find.

Scholarships and grants. Ask your school's financial aid office what it offers, then look at dental organizations and state programs. Apply every year, not only in first year.
Compare total cost, not just tuition. In-state schools often cost far less than out-of-state or private ones, and housing and fees add up.
Live below your budget in school. A monthly cost-of-attendance budget is a ceiling, not a target. Borrowing the full amount is optional.
Service-based scholarships. Military health professions scholarships pay tuition in exchange for years of service. They fit some students well and others badly, so read the commitment first.

Use federal loans first

Federal loans come with income-driven repayment, forgiveness options and hardship protections that private loans usually do not match, so they are the base of most dental funding plans.

Under the 2026 rules, Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers on July 1, 2026, and new federal borrowing is capped at $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total for professional students. Many dental students will need private loans or other funds to cover the rest.

Dental students receive unsubsidized loans, so interest builds while you are in school. Paying that interest as you go, even partly, keeps the balance from growing before repayment begins.

Complete the FAFSA every year. Your school and some states use it to decide aid.

Fill gaps with private loans carefully

Private loans can be cheaper than federal rates for borrowers with strong credit or a strong cosigner. They also give up federal protections, so treat them as a tool for a specific gap and not a default.

Compare rates, fees and terms from several lenders, and check whether the rate is fixed or variable.
Ask whether the lender offers a cosigner release and what it requires.
Check how the lender treats deferment during school and during residency.
Borrow private loans in smaller, planned amounts each year and not as one large loan, so you can reassess.

Choose your repayment plan

The grace period after graduation is the time to choose. The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) sets your payment as a share of income, subsidizes unpaid interest and forgives any balance after 30 years. Older loans may also have Income-Based Repayment (IBR) available.

At dentist incomes, RAP's lack of a payment cap can make it costlier than a capped plan, while its interest subsidy and principal match protect you in residency and the first lower-paid years. Run both with your own numbers before you decide.

Service and forgiveness programs

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives the balance after 120 qualifying payments while you work full time for a qualifying employer, such as a nonprofit or government clinic. The payments must be made under a qualifying plan.

Other programs pay down loans in exchange for service. Examples include the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program for work at approved sites, military loan repayment, Veterans Affairs programs, and state loan repayment programs for dentists who practice in underserved areas.

Award sizes, eligible sites and application dates change each year, so confirm current terms with the agency. Compare each program's service commitment with what it pays, and with the plan you would otherwise use.

Refinancing: when and when not

Refinancing replaces your loans with a private loan, often at a lower rate. It makes the most sense for a dentist with high, stable income, strong credit, no plan to use PSLF or other federal forgiveness, and a clear payoff plan.

It is a one-way door. Once federal loans are refinanced, you lose RAP, IBR, PSLF and federal hardship options for them. If you might go into public service, or your income is uncertain in residency, waiting is usually safer. You can refinance later, but you cannot undo it.

Refinancing dental student loans

Pay-down tactics

Enroll in auto pay. A larger auto pay interest reduction of 1% is available through June 30, 2028 for borrowers who enroll by December 31, 2026. It stops during deferment, forbearance, or if you cancel auto pay. Servicers may not let you enroll until your loans are in repayment, so ask yours how to handle the timing.
Send extra payments to the highest rate first. Tell your servicer how to apply extra money so it lowers principal and not just the next due date.
Avoid long forbearance. It pauses payments but interest can keep building, and it can stop other benefits.
Recertify your income on time. Missing the deadline on an income-driven plan can raise your payment.
Keep records. Download your payment history each year, especially if you are pursuing PSLF.

SAVE switch and the auto-pay discount

Dentists who are married

Under RAP, married borrowers who file jointly are assessed on combined income, with a reduction if the spouse also has federal student loans. Filing separately uses only your own income and the dependents you claim.

Which filing choice works best depends on both incomes, both loan balances and your other taxes, so model the choices together before you file. A tax professional can confirm what works for your return.

A timeline by stage

Stage	What to do
Before school	Compare total cost by school, apply for scholarships, file the FAFSA, and decide how much you will borrow each year.
During school	Borrow only what you need, pay interest where you can, and keep records of every loan and servicer.
Grace period	Choose your repayment plan, compare RAP and other options, and ask your servicer about auto pay timing.
Residency	Check which options apply to your income, keep payments current, and avoid refinancing if you may use forgiveness.
Early practice	Revisit your plan with your real income, decide on refinancing with numbers, and set a payoff target.

Build your plan with your numbers

Common questions

What is the best way to pay for dental school?: Most plans combine several sources: savings and scholarships first, then federal loans, then private loans only for the remaining gap. Borrowing less matters most because it also avoids the interest.
Should I refinance my dental school loans?: Possibly, if you have high stable income, strong credit and no plan to use federal forgiveness. Refinancing federal loans ends RAP, IBR, PSLF and federal hardship options for them, so many dentists wait until their income and plans are clear.
Can dental students still get Grad PLUS loans?: Not for new borrowing after July 1, 2026. New federal loans for professional students are capped at $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total, so some students will need private loans for the remainder.
Do dentists qualify for loan forgiveness?: Yes, in some situations. PSLF applies to qualifying public-service employers, and service-based repayment programs pay down loans for work at approved sites. Income-driven plans also forgive any remaining balance after 30 years under RAP.
How can I lower my payments after graduation?: Choose a plan that fits your income, enroll in auto pay for the interest rate reduction while it is available, and avoid missing income recertification. Compare plans in the planner with your own balance.

How these numbers are calculated

Rules last reviewed September 2026. Every result is an estimate from the inputs you enter and the published federal rules below, not a quote and not advice for your situation. Confirm with your servicer and your school's financial aid office.

Assumptions

Rules: the 2026 federal student loan changes (RAP, Tiered Standard, IBR for loans disbursed before 7/1/2026, and the professional-degree caps of $50,000 a year and $200,000 total).
Income grows at the yearly raise you enter, and pre-tax items grow at the rate you enter. Nothing else about your income is predicted.
Payments are monthly, held fixed for 12 months and recalculated from the prior year's income.
Future rule changes, tax-bracket changes and the RAP spousal-loan offset for joint filers are not modeled.
Costs in future years are shown in today's dollars where labeled, using the discount rate in the planner.

Official sources

What would change a result most: your future income, the interest rate on new loans, whether you qualify for federal loans, and any change to the federal rules after the date above.