FEDERAL
For federal loan repayment options, click here for the ADA's compiled list.

STATE
Primary Care Resource Initiative for Missouri (PRIMO) https://health.mo.gov/living/families/primarycare/primo/

The Missouri Health Professional State Loan Repayment Program provides educational loan repayment to qualifying health professionals in exchange for practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in Missouri. The SLRP currently receives $250,000 of federal funds and the state matches $250,000 with donated funds. 

• MDAF Scholarship Program: Awards scholarships each year based upon achievement and need. The scholarship program is an initiative of the MDA Foundation in cooperation with the MDA and MDIS. Click here to learn more.
• HRSA Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students: Dental students may compete for NHSC scholarships beginning in their sophomore and junior years. The program offers payment of tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment and includes a monthly stipend. In exchange, recipients must agree to provide oral health services for a minimum of two years in any underserved community identified by the NHSC as being a critical need area. For more information, call NHSC, 800-221-9393.
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Short-Term Training Awards This program provides underrepresented minority and women dental students an opportunity to obtain research experience during their professional training. Recipients receive a monthly stipend during training periods. Applicants must be enrolled at a U.S. dental school and be a U.S. citizen, a noncitizen national of the U.S., or lawfully admitted for permanent residence. All minorities are eligible, but NIDCR determines if minority status is underrepresented. All recipients must sign an agreement that they will fulfill payback requirements. For more information contact NIDCR at 301-594-7617.
• Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarships (HPSP) offer scholarships to dental students that pay tuition, fees, books and a monthly stipend. All are highly competitive programs. The active duty obligation is one year of service for each year of scholarship support with a minimum of three years of active duty service. Scholarships are available annually from all service branches. For information contact the individual branches of service.

• In addition to scholarships, there are branches of the federal service that offer financial assistance and/or loan forgiveness to dental students in exchange for a work commitment. Find out more by viewing the websites below for these organizations: Army Dental Corps  |  Navy  |  Air Force  |  Department of Veterans Affairs  |  U.S. Public Health Service

As a member benefit, the ADA exclusively endorses Laurel Road Student Loan Refinancing Program. Laurel Road provides unmatched opportunities for ADA members to refinance existing federal and private undergraduate and graduate school loans at a 0.25% lower rate than Laurel Road’s already low rates. Contact Laurel Road at 855.277.677 or studentloans@laurelroad.com.

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The American Dental Association has created a page for members, Manage My Debt, with resources to help dentists decide if they should refinance and consolidate their loans, as well as budgeting tips.

The American Dental Education Association has resources for financing dental education, such as Financing Your Dental Education, which focuses specifically on predoctoral education.