Loans

If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements for federal aid, you will be offered Federal Direct student loans after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed prior to each year that you want to be considered for federal student aid. You may also apply for the Health Professions Student Loan program or a private student loan to assist in covering your education expenses.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

  • Amount: Varies based on academic year and months enrolled
  • Interest Rates (2025-26): 7.94% APR, begins accruing at time of disbursement
  • Origination Fee (2025-26): 1.057% is withheld as a federal processing fee at time of disbursement
  • Grace Period: repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

  • Interest Rates (2025-26): 8.94% APR, begins accruing at time of disbursement
  • Origination Fee (2025-26): 1.057% is withheld as a federal processing fee at time of disbursement
  • Grace Period: repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment
  • The Graduate PLUS loan requires a credit check to ensure you, the student, have no adverse credit history. If a student does not pass the credit check, they can still borrow a PLUS loan with an endorser (similar to a co-signer) or by appealing the credit decision.

Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL)

  • Amount: Varies based on available funding.
  • Interest Rate: O% while in school and grace period; 5% during repayment
  • Grace Period: repayment begins 12 months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment
  • The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) is a need-based loan awarded from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds. To qualify, students must submit a loan application and parent income and tax documents. This loan is serviced through ECSI Heartland but can be converted into a Federal Consolidated Loan to be repaid with a student’s Federal Direct loan servicer on an applicable payment plan.

Private Student Loan

  • Amount: Cost of Attendance minus other aid
  • Interest Rate: Varies based on prime interest rate and borrower credit history
  • Grace Period: Varies based on lender
  • If you have exhausted your funding from scholarships, grants, and federal loans, you may consider applying for a private student loan with the lender of your choice. We encourage you to use FastChoice to compare interest rates and other loan terms between companies who commonly lend to dental students.