Schools over the $50,000 cap in year one
60 of 60
Every school that publishes a first-year budget.
Data study · September 26, 2026
The dental school funding gap, school by school
Since July 1, 2026, a new dental student can borrow at most $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total in federal loans. We checked the published first-year cost of attendance at 67 U.S. dental schools. Of the 60 that publish a first-year budget, not one fits under the cap.
Median first-year cost (in-state)
$108,215
Tuition, fees and living costs, as each school budgets them.
Median gap, year one
$58,215
What federal loans won’t cover in the first year.
Median gap, whole program
$232,858
If every year cost what year one does. Ranges from $45k to $535k.
Every dental school costs more than the cap
First-year cost of attendance at 60 U.S. dental schools (in-state where it differs), lowest to highest.
Show the numbers
| School | First-year cost |
|---|---|
| University of the Pacific | $204,088 |
| University of Southern California | $183,633 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine | $177,454 |
| New York University College of Dentistry | $175,147 |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine | $163,494 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine | $162,342 |
| Tufts University School of Dental Medicine | $161,838 |
| A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | $158,620 |
| Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | $157,469 |
| Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College | $154,949 |
| Midwestern University Arizona | $154,772 |
| Columbia University College of Dental Medicine | $154,708 |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (Downers Grove) | $153,217 |
| California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine | $148,303 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine | $147,154 |
| Loma Linda University School of Dentistry | $141,618 |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry | $138,420 |
| Creighton University School of Dentistry | $131,363 |
| Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry | $131,348 |
| Rutgers School of Dental Medicine | $130,847 |
| UCLA School of Dentistry | $127,652 |
| Harvard School of Dental Medicine | $127,362 |
| University of New England College of Dental Medicine | $125,920 |
| Temple University | $120,770 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine | $118,111 |
| LECOM School of Dental Medicine (Bradenton) | $115,931 |
| University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine | $115,095 |
| University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine | $111,459 |
| UCSF School of Dentistry | $110,983 |
| University of Maryland School of Dentistry | $108,947 |
| University of Washington School of Dentistry | $107,482 |
| University of Michigan School of Dentistry | $107,353 |
| University of Iowa College of Dentistry | $106,849 |
| Marquette University School of Dentistry | $104,960 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry | $100,886 |
| University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine | $98,462 |
| Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine | $96,989 |
| UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry | $95,811 |
| UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry | $95,020 |
| LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry | $94,566 |
| University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry | $93,777 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | $93,197 |
| Howard University College of Dentistry | $92,953 |
| East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine | $92,431 |
| University of Florida College of Dentistry | $90,609 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry | $90,241 |
| University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry | $89,114 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry | $88,670 |
| University of Minnesota School of Dentistry | $88,017 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $87,836 |
| University of Utah School of Dentistry | $87,322 |
| University of Louisville School of Dentistry | $86,418 |
| The Ohio State University College of Dentistry | $86,222 |
| University of Kentucky College of Dentistry | $84,920 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine | $80,096 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry | $78,121 |
| Augusta University | $77,387 |
| Texas A&M University School of Dentistry | $75,553 |
| Indiana University School of Dentistry | $65,850 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine | $61,309 |
Each school’s own published budget, checked Sep 26, 2026. Seven schools publish no annual budget and aren’t shown.
What this means
Before July 2026, Grad PLUS let dental students borrow federally up to the full cost of attendance. For new students that’s gone. The gap has to come from scholarships, service programs (military HPSP, NHSC, IHS), family, or private loans, which don’t come with RAP, PSLF or federal forgiveness.
Students who enrolled and took a federal loan for their program before July 1, 2026 keep the old limits for up to three more academic years.See who’s grandfathered.
All 67 schools
| Data year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | CA | $183,633 | $133,633 | $534,532 | 2026-27 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | CA | $177,454 | $127,454 | $509,816 | 2026-27 |
| New York University College of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | NY | $175,147 | $125,147 | $500,588 | 2026-27 |
| University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of DentistryPrivate · 3-year program · source | CA | $204,088 | $154,088 | $462,264 | 2026-27 |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | FL | $163,494 | $113,494 | $453,976 | 2026-27 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | PA | $162,342 | $112,342 | $449,368 | 2026-27 |
| Tufts University School of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | MA | $161,838 | $111,838 | $447,352 | 2026-27 |
| A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral HealthPrivate · 4-year program · source | AZ | $158,620 | $108,620 | $434,480 | 2026-27 |
| Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | MA | $157,469 | $107,469 | $429,876 | 2026-27 |
| Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical CollegePrivate · 4-year program · source | NY | $154,949 | $104,949 | $419,796 | 2025-26 |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona (Glendale)Private · 4-year program · source | AZ | $154,772 | $104,772 | $419,088 | 2026-27 |
| Columbia University College of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | NY | $154,708 | $104,708 | $418,832 | 2026-27 |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (Downers Grove)Private · 4-year program · source | IL | $153,217 | $103,217 | $412,868 | 2026-27 |
| California Northstate University College of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | CA | $148,303 | $98,303 | $393,212 | 2026-27 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | OH | $147,154 | $97,154 | $388,615 | 2026-27 |
| Loma Linda University School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | CA | $141,618 | $91,618 | $366,472 | 2026-27 |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | MI | $138,420 | $88,420 | $353,680 | 2026-27 |
| Creighton University School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | NE | $131,363 | $81,363 | $325,452 | 2026-27 |
| Meharry Medical College School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | TN | $131,348 | $81,348 | $325,392 | 2026-27 |
| Rutgers School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | NJ | $130,847 | $80,847 | $323,388 | 2025-26 |
| UCLA School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | CA | $127,652 | $77,652 | $310,608 | 2026-27 |
| Harvard School of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | MA | $127,362 | $77,362 | $309,448 | 2026-27 |
| University of New England College of Dental MedicinePrivate · 4-year program · source | ME | $125,920 | $75,920 | $303,680 | 2026-27 |
| Temple University, Maurice H. Kornberg School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | PA | $120,770 | $70,770 | $283,080 | 2025-26 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | PA | $118,111 | $68,111 | $272,444 | 2026-27 |
| LECOM School of Dental Medicine (Bradenton)Private · 4-year program · source | FL | $115,931 | $65,931 | $263,724 | 2026-27 |
| University of Connecticut School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | CT | $115,095 | $65,095 | $260,380 | 2026-27 |
| University of Colorado School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | CO | $111,459 | $61,459 | $245,836 | 2026-27 |
| UCSF School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | CA | $110,983 | $60,983 | $243,932 | 2026-27 |
| University of Maryland School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | MD | $108,947 | $58,947 | $235,788 | 2026-27 |
| University of Washington School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | WA | $107,482 | $57,482 | $229,928 | 2026-27 |
| University of Michigan School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | MI | $107,353 | $57,353 | $229,412 | 2026-27 (tuition at 2025-26 rates) |
| University of Iowa College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | IA | $106,849 | $56,849 | $227,396 | 2026-27 (tuition estimated) |
| Marquette University School of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | WI | $104,960 | $54,960 | $219,840 | 2026-27 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | TN | $100,886 | $50,886 | $203,544 | 2026-27 |
| University at Buffalo School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | NY | $98,462 | $48,462 | $193,848 | 2026-27 |
| Stony Brook University School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | NY | $96,989 | $46,989 | $187,956 | 2026-27 |
| UT Health San Antonio School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | TX | $95,811 | $45,811 | $183,244 | 2026-27 |
| UTHealth Houston School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | TX | $95,020 | $45,020 | $180,080 | 2026-27 |
| LSU Health New Orleans School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | LA | $94,566 | $44,566 | $178,264 | 2026-27 |
| University of Oklahoma College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | OK | $93,777 | $43,777 | $175,108 | 2026-27 |
| Medical University of South Carolina, James B. Edwards College of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | SC | $93,197 | $43,197 | $172,788 | 2026-27 |
| Howard University College of DentistryPrivate · 4-year program · source | DC | $92,953 | $42,953 | $171,812 | 2026-27 |
| East Carolina University School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | NC | $92,431 | $42,431 | $169,724 | 2024-25 (COA); 2026-27 (T&F) |
| University of Florida College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | FL | $90,609 | $40,609 | $162,434 | 2026-27 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | MS | $90,241 | $40,241 | $160,964 | 2026-27 |
| University of Illinois Chicago College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | IL | $89,114 | $39,114 | $156,456 | 2026-27 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | NE | $88,670 | $38,670 | $154,680 | 2026-27 |
| University of Minnesota School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | MN | $88,017 | $38,017 | $152,066 | 2025-26 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adams School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | NC | $87,836 | $37,836 | $151,344 | 2026-27 |
| University of Utah School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | UT | $87,322 | $37,322 | $149,288 | 2026-27 |
| University of Louisville School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | KY | $86,418 | $36,418 | $145,672 | 2025-26 |
| The Ohio State University College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | OH | $86,222 | $36,222 | $144,888 | 2026-27 |
| University of Kentucky College of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | KY | $84,920 | $34,920 | $139,680 | 2026-27 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | IL | $80,096 | $30,096 | $120,384 | 2026-27 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | AL | $78,121 | $28,121 | $112,484 | 2025-26 |
| Augusta University, The Dental College of GeorgiaPublic · 4-year program · source | GA | $77,387 | $27,387 | $109,548 | 2024-25 |
| Texas A&M University School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | TX | $75,553 | $25,553 | $102,212 | 2026-27 |
| Indiana University School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | IN | $65,850 | $15,850 | $63,400 | 2026-27 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | PR | $61,309 | $11,309 | $45,237 | 2026-27 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | OR | — | — | — | 2026-27 |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (South Jordan, UT)Private · 3-year program · source | UT | — | — | — | 2026-27 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Woody L. Hunt School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | TX | — | — | — | 2026-27 |
| UNLV School of Dental MedicinePublic · 4-year program · source | NV | — | — | — | 2026-27 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | MO | — | — | — | not published |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | VA | — | — | — | not published |
| West Virginia University School of DentistryPublic · 4-year program · source | WV | — | — | — | 2026-27 |
“—” means the school doesn’t publish that figure (for example, some public schools print only per-semester tuition, and a few don’t publish a nonresident budget). Named schools link to a page with their full breakdown. Download the data (CSV).
How we built this
- Costs are each school’s own published first-year (D1) cost of attendance for the DDS/DMD program: tuition, fees and the living budget the aid office uses, as of September 26, 2026. Most are for 2026–27; the table shows the year when a school hasn’t published it yet.
- Where a school prints its parts but no total, we added up its listed items; each school’s record notes when we did. We never estimated a missing number.
- Federal loans are capped at $50,000 a year and $200,000 for the program for new professional students (RISE final rule, effective July 1, 2026). A three-year program can borrow at most $150,000.
- Whole-program gaps assume every year costs what year one does. Later years often cost a little more or less, so treat them as estimates; your school’s aid office has the exact budget.
- Scholarships and grants would shrink every gap. This shows the gap before any of them.
Journalists and aid offices are welcome to use this data with a link to this page. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it and log it.
What to do about your gap
- Run the funding gap calculator with your school’s cost, your scholarships and your years left.
- Borrow federal first, up to the cap: federal loans keep RAP and PSLF.
- Look at service programs before private debt: military HPSP can cover full tuition.
- Then compare private in-school loans on rate, deferment and protections.