How to pay for dental school after Grad PLUS

What changed on July 1, 2026

Grad PLUS closed to new borrowers on July 1, 2026. Before that, a dental student could borrow up to the school’s full cost of attendance, minus other aid, from the federal government. That open-ended option is gone for anyone who wasn’t already borrowing for their program.

New DDS and DMD students now get Direct Unsubsidized loans only. The limits, as of September 2026:

Federal limit for new dental students	Amount
Per year	$50,000
Total for the professional degree	$200,000
Lifetime, all federal student loans (undergrad included)	$257,500
2026–27 interest rate	8.07% fixed
Origination fee (loans first disbursed Oct 1, 2020 to Sept 30, 2027)	1.057%

These come from the RISE final rule (91 FR 23768, May 1, 2026) and FSA’s loan limits FAQ. The full breakdown, including how the old limits compare, is on federal loan limits for dental students.

Some current students keep the old rules for up to three more years. That applies if you were enrolled by June 30, 2026 and already had a Direct Loan for your dental program. See grandfathered into Grad PLUS? before you read further.

How big is the gap?

The ADA Health Policy Institute found that dental students who took federal loans in 2024–25 received $95,455 a year on average. That’s nearly twice the new cap.

Here’s the math on an average borrower:

• $95,455 average federal borrowing − $50,000 new cap = $45,455 a year to find elsewhere.
• Over a four-year program, that’s about $181,800.

Your number will differ, and a lot. The ADA Health Policy Institute counts 77 U.S. dental schools. One year of tuition and fees runs about $35,000 for state residents at the cheapest, and more than three times that at the most expensive. The ADA reports first-year tuition and mandatory fees averaged $46,845 for residents at public schools in 2025–26, and $90,090 for residents at private schools. Living costs sit on top of that. Run your own numbers with the dental school funding gap tool.

The order to fill it

Work down this list. Each step is cheaper, or safer, than the one after it.

1. Scholarships and service programs

These reduce what you borrow instead of deferring it. The two big service programs for dental students:

• Military HPSP. The Army, Navy and Air Force programs cover full tuition plus a monthly stipend, in exchange for active-duty service after you graduate (ADA).
• NHSC Scholarship. Pays tuition and a stipend in exchange for at least two years of service in a health professional shortage area (ADA). NHSC is funded only through Dec 31, 2026 under current law, so confirm the program is open before you plan around it.

Who these are right for: students who’d consider the service commitment anyway. Who they’re wrong for: anyone who’d resent where they’re sent or for how long. The commitment is the price, so read it before you sign.

For the details, see military dental scholarships and loan repayment.

2. Your school’s own aid

Ask the financial aid office what the school offers beyond federal loans. That includes school grants, need-based scholarships and school-based loans. In the ADEA survey, 13% of seniors with dental school debt used Health Professions Student Loans.

Ask directly whether the school has added aid since Grad PLUS closed.

3. Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, up to the cap

Take these before any private loan, for most students. The rate is fixed, and there’s no credit check or cosigner.

More important, federal loans keep federal protections. That means the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and federal deferment and forbearance. A private loan has none of those.

The cost, as of 2026–27: 8.07% fixed with a 1.057% fee. On a $50,000 loan, the fee is about $530, so about $49,470 reaches your school. Interest runs about $4,035 a year ($50,000 × 8.07%) and starts at disbursement.

4. Private in-school loans, for what’s left

For many students, private loans now fill the last piece. The ADA’s guide says private loans may not carry the same federal protections, repayment options or forgiveness eligibility.

Borrow only the gap, not the whole cost of attendance. Every private dollar you don’t need is a dollar with no RAP or PSLF behind it.

Compare several lenders on the same terms before you sign. What to check is on private student loans for dental school, compared, with a dated rate table.

When not to borrow the full amount

Your school’s cost of attendance is a ceiling, not a target. If you can live on less, borrow less.

Don’t take a private loan to pad savings or cover lifestyle costs. That money compounds at a private rate for a decade or more, with no income-based safety net.

And don’t take a service scholarship only for the money. Read the service terms, and what happens if you leave early, before you sign.

What to do now

1. Find your gap. Get your school’s cost of attendance and run it through the funding gap tool.
2. Check if you’re grandfathered. If you had a Direct Loan for your program before July 1, 2026, read what current students keep.
3. Apply for service programs early. HPSP and NHSC have their own deadlines and service terms.
4. Ask your aid office about school aid. Get grants, scholarships and school-based loans in writing.
5. Take federal Direct Unsubsidized loans up to the cap. Accept them before any private loan.
6. Compare private lenders for the rest. Get several quotes, borrow only the gap, and see the rate table.
7. Know the numbers you’re signing up for. See dental school debt: the real numbers for what this debt costs a month.