Scholarships For Dental Students
Forget About Costly College Bills for Dental Programs
Becoming a dentist requires an advanced medical degree, and with that advanced degree comes rising educational costs. Fortunately, numerous scholarships exist to assist aspiring dentists.
Scholarships From National Associations
National dental associations offer scholarships to promote the education of future professionals in the field.
The American Dental Association provides the Dental Student Scholarship for second-year students. The $2,500 scholarship is based on financial need. Students must have a 3.0 GPA and provide references from their dental school. Application forms are distributed through accredited schools of dentistry.
The International Association for Dental Research & The American Association for Dental Research offers cash awards and travel stipends for research projects and presentations. While most awards won't go far towards paying for yearly tuition, they offer professional development opportunities and a certain amount of prestige. Each award, competition, or fellowship has its own requirements and application guidelines.
Minority Dental Scholarships
A diverse field of dentists can better serve the needs of a diverse population, so many organizations offer scholarships to encourage minority students to study dentistry.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) offers a number of scholarships, with the $5,000 Dr. Kiyoshi Sonoda Memorial Scholarship devoted to dental students. Applicants must be active members of the National JACL pursuing a degree in dentistry.
The Chinese American Medical Society offers scholarships to students of Chinese descent pursuing medical or dental studies. Several scholarships, including the Ruth Liu Memorial Scholarship and the Esther Lim Memorial Scholarship, are available each year, and application forms are available from the organization's website.
The Indian Health Service scholarship program assists American Indians and Alaska Natives who wish to pursue a career in health services, including dentistry. Scholarships are available for full- and part-time students.
The American Dental Association's Minority Scholarship Program provides $2,500 awards to minority students. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial aid.
The National Dental Association offers the National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF)/Colgate Palmolive Scholarship program for African-American and other minority students. Five renewable $2,000 scholarships are set aside for freshmen demonstrating academic achievement and a history of service. Additional awards are available to post-doctoral students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to service.
School-Specific Scholarships
The University of Florida College of Dentistry offers 10 scholarship funds and 11 different loan programs:
- The Morton Amsterdam Foundation Scholarship Fund and the Parker E. Mahan, D.D.S., Ph.D. Endowed Fellowship Fund are open to any dental student.
- The Krisia and Steve Rhoden Memorial Scholarship Fund gives special consideration to students from the Caribbean.
- Andrew Abel Dental Scholarship Fund assists students with financial need.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine offers two scholarship programs. To be considered for a Penn Dental Medicine Grant, students must submit a PENN financial aid application, a FAFSA form, and tax returns; awards will be distributed according to financial need. The School of Dental Medicine Dean's Scholarships are awarded to top-performing students, as determined by GPA, DAT scores, and application materials. The scholarship covers half of each year's tuition costs, and no separate application form is required.
These school-specific scholarships are presented to give just an idea of the funds individual schools offer to assist attendees. Applicants should contact their dental college or university foundation to learn more about available scholarships at their school.