The short answer
New Hampshire has 2 loan repayment programs a dentist can apply to, and all are open as of September 26, 2026. Federal programs (NHSC, IHS and the military) also work here.
Apply now: New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program and NH Private Practice Dentists State Loan Repayment Program
- New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program: Rolling; reviewed quarterly. Deadlines April 1 (Oct 1 start), July 1 (Jan 1 start), October 1 (April 1 start), January 1 (July 1 start).
- NH Private Practice Dentists State Loan Repayment Program: Rolling; reviewed quarterly.
New Hampshire programs for dentists
Each program below is described from its official page. Terms change every cycle, so confirm the numbers and deadline there before you apply.
New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
NH DHHS, Division of Public Health Services, Rural Health & Primary Care Section
- Dentists
- Eligible · hygienists eligible too
- What it pays
- Full-time Tier 1 dentists: $75,000 for 36-month minimum obligation, optional 24-month extension at $40,000. Part-time dentists: $27,500 for 24 months, optional 12-month extension at $10,000. Tier 3 RDHs full-time: $30,000 for 36 months (+24-month extension $10,000).
- Commitment
- Minimum 36 months full-time or 24 months part-time at current practice site.
- Where you can work
- Guidelines 2.3: primary, medical, oral or behavioral health services 'in a public, private, or nonprofit practice' located in a HPSA, MHPSA, DHPSA, MUA/P or Governor's Exceptional MUP, or a DHHS-funded organization; sliding-fee scale approved by SLRP; accept Medicaid and Medicare; serve all regardless of ability to pay. Private practices can qualify.
- Applying
- Rolling; reviewed quarterly. Deadlines April 1 (Oct 1 start), July 1 (Jan 1 start), October 1 (April 1 start), January 1 (July 1 start).
- Taxes
- 'State Loan Repayment Funds are exempt from federal taxes under Section 10908 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act' (guidelines).
- Specialists
- Tier 1 lists 'General Practice Dentists (DDS or DMD)'; guidelines table: 'DDS or DMD General Practice Dentist'. Specialists not listed.
Official sources: dhhs.nh.gov (undated (links annual reports through 20), dhhs.nh.gov (undated). Checked Sep 26, 2026.
NH Private Practice Dentists State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP-PPD)
NH DHHS, Division of Public Health Services, Rural Health & Primary Care Section
- Dentists
- Eligible
- What it pays
- Total repayment of $75,000 over three years (Tier 1 chart: $30,000 / $25,000 / $20,000).
- Commitment
- Firm three-year commitment, full-time (minimum 40 hrs/week, 45 weeks/yr).
- Where you can work
- Private practice located in a Medicaid-defined priority area; enrolled NH Medicaid provider; minimum 15% Medicaid patients per quarter.
- Applying
- Rolling; reviewed quarterly.
- Taxes
- 'State Loan Repayment Funds are exempt from federal taxes under Section 10908 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.'
Official sources: dhhs.nh.gov (undated), dhhs.nh.gov (SLRP-PPD Guidelines v9-24). Checked Sep 26, 2026.
NH not listed on HRSA SLRP contacts page; found via state DHHS site.
Federal programs that also work in New Hampshire
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: up to $50,000 for two years full time at an approved site, tax-free. Funded only through Dec. 31, 2026 under current law.
- Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program: up to $50,000 for two years at IHS, tribal and urban Indian sites.
- Military scholarships and loan repayment.
How these fit with your other loan choices
- PSLF: if the site is a nonprofit or government employer, the same years can count toward PSLF. If you’re sure to reach PSLF, a repayment award mostly shrinks what PSLF would have forgiven.
- RAP: award payments lower your balance, not your RAP payment, which is based on income. Estimate your RAP payment.
- Refinancing: most programs repay federal and private qualifying education loans; check whether yours counts before you refinance.
What to do next
- Check whether your job, or the one you’re considering, is at an eligible site (most programs require a shortage area, and many require a nonprofit or public employer).
- Read the official page for each program above and note the next deadline.
- Compare the award with what staying on RAP or PSLF, or refinancing, would cost you: run your numbers.
Program details come from each program’s official page, checked September 26, 2026. We don’t earn anything from loan repayment programs. General education, not advice. Found an error? Tell us.