A dental education is an expensive undertaking. While the major responsibility for financing a professional education rests with you and your family external agencies, such as the federal government assist student by offering low-cost student loans to supplement family contributions.
Financial aid is only available to cover education-related expenses for the student for one academic year. Reapplication is required for each subsequent year. Federal and state laws prohibit the use of financial aid for non-educational expenses such as car loans, lifestyle choices, and credit cards.
Dental Students should apply for financial aid for each new award year as soon as possible to receive consideration for student loans.
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STEP 1: Begin financing a dental education by tapping the nearest resource, which could be your family. Parents, grandparents, and/or other family members may be in a financial position to help you. If they offer, it is wise to accept their assistance. By reducing your costs, your overall debt will be kept in check.
STEP 2: Look for scholarships. Unfortunately, scholarships at the professional level are not as plentiful as they are at the undergraduate level, but they are out there. Contact civic organizations, your church, your employer or your parent’s employer for opportunities. Fraternities and sororities offer scholarships. There are books at public and college libraries, and internet resources for accessing free scholarship searches. An increasing number of our students are turning to Military scholarships, which are a good investment. For a three- or four- year commitment, you can get a free education. Contact your local recruiter to see what they are offering in the area of health professions.
STEP 3: The last step is to take a look at the federal loan programs. You do have to re-pay loans, but thanks to the federal government, the Unsubsidized Loan Program is available; the fixed interest rate changes every July 1. With the cost of tuition continuing to rise, sometimes the Unsubsidized Loan is not enough to cover your costs. In this case, you may have to rely on Grad Plus Loan, which also has a fixed interest rate that changes on July 1 of every year. This loan is credit based, so if you have bad credit, try to get your credit problems resolved before you apply to dental school. You may have to get a co-signer for this loan.
The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry provides scholarship opportunities for student in Years 1-3. However, since scholarships from the University or the College are limited, students are encouraged to seek scholarship assistance from sources outside the institution. These may be found through community agencies, local civic groups, churches, state dental societies, and various other venues.
Notices of scholarships from sources outside the University become available throughout the year. Information is provided and all student dentists are given consideration in accordance with criteria specified by the scholarship and encouraged to apply. These scholarships may be for one time or they may be recurring. The may be based on community service, specific career goals, academic performance, financial need, leadership potential or a variety of other criteria.
A word of caution! Be wary of agencies that claim to “guarantee” scholarships, then charge a fee for their services. There are many scholarship scams from agencies offering claims of guaranteed “Free” money, but charge you for finding it. Beware! You should never have to pay for free money.
Awarded to a first-year student who is a Kentucky Resident with a need for financial assistance.
Duration of the Scholarship: 1 Year
The purpose of this Scholarship shall be to support one or more annual scholarship(s) for incoming, first-year students in the College’s Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) program. The Scholarships Subcommittee of the College’s Admissions Committee shall determine amount(s) and recipient(s) of the scholarship(s). The College shall have discretion to identify additional scholarship criteria to advance its institutional and admissions goals.
Awarded to entering 1st year student dentists based on prior academic qualifications, the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores, and personal interview, as decided by the Admissions Committee Scholarship Subcommittee.
Examples of Criteria used in 2019-2020 Awards:
The College of Dentistry shall have discretion to identify additional scholarship criteria to advance its institutional and admissions goals.
Duration of the Scholarship: 4 Years
Awarded to a 1st year student dentist. The applicant must also have financial need as determined by the FAFSA application. This is a recurring scholarship till the student Graduates at the end of the four-year DMD program.
The recipient(s) of this scholarship(s) shall be selected by a scholarship committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Dentistry or the Dean’s designee (the “Scholarship Committee”). A majority of the Scholarship Committee shall include one or more representative(s) from the College of Dentistry Class of 2003, if available and willing to serve.
The purpose of this scholarship(s) shall be to support one or more annual scholarships for students in the College of Dentistry. This scholarship(s) shall be awarded to students who:
The committee shall conduct a holistic review of the applicants qualifications, such as academic merit, unmet financial need, extra-curricular and volunteer activities, and professional goals.
The donor requests the following preferences, in order of priority:
The scholarship recipient(s) shall be select by a committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Dentistry or the Dean’s designee.
The purpose of this Scholarship shall be to award an annual $2,000 scholarship to dentistry student that meet he following criteria:
The purpose of this Scholarship shall be award one or more annual scholarship(s) to students in the College. The scholarship(s) shall be awarded to students who:
Scholarships recipients may re-apply for the scholarship for the following academic year, provided they continue to meet the scholarship criteria.
The purpose of this Scholarship shall be award one or more annual scholarship(s) to students in the College. The scholarship(s) shall be awarded to student who:
Awarded to entering 1st year student dentists who completed the Enhancement Scholarship Application and met the following criteria.
Examples of Criteria used in 2020-2021 Awards:
Awarded to First Generation students if funds are available we try to split the funds evenly so everyone gets a piece of the pie.
Awarded to selected 3rd and 4th year student dentists who rank in the top 20% of their class.
Awarded to a 4th year student dentist ranked in the top 50% of the class and is based on a combination of academics, college service and leadership, and good citizenship.
Awarded to 3rd, or 4th year student dentist who demonstrates outstanding achievement and participation in dental school organizations and activities throughout dental school.
Award to 3rd year student dentist who exemplify the original College philosophy of being technically capable, biologically oriented, and socially sensitive. Candidates should also demonstrate enduring loyalty, respect, concern, and friendship of his or her classmates. Candidates should understand an epitomize a patient-centered approach to dentistry. Candidates should show evidence of passionate fidelity to the profession and its Code of Professional Conduct. Finally, the candidates must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA application.
Awarded to a student dentist in their final semester of the College’s Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) Program and demonstrates a commitment to personal health and wellness.
Awarded to a 3rd or 4th year student dentist ranked in the top 10% of their class. Candidates should show evidence of a heart for serving others through hours spent in volunteer work. Candidates should exhibit a well-rounded personality as evidenced by respect from peers, patients, faculty, and staff consulted in the selection process. Candidates must demonstrate an excellent work ethic in clinical and didactic coursework
Awarded to a 3rd year or rising 4th Year student dentist at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, be ranked in top 1/3 of class, prove excellence in clinical performance in Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, and demonstrate interest in the Diagnostics and/or Medical Sciences
Awarded to 3rd year student dentists who have active memberships with the American Student Dental Association and demonstrate a commitment to involvement in profession dental organizations.
Will support one or more annual scholarship(s) for professional student(s) who are accepted or enrolled in the College of Dentistry, have demonstrated financial need, and are from the Western Kentucky region, defined as being from one of the following Kentucky Counties: Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Larue, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, McCracken, McLean, Marshall, Meade, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster. For any given year in which there are no student(s) from the aforementioned Kentucky Counties in the Western Kentucky region, then scholarship(s) may be awarded to professional student(s) accepted or enrolled in the College of Dentistry that have demonstrated financial need and are from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Awarded to resident of Kentucky in their 3rd or 4th year dental student who has maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate above average leadership and communication skills with patients and their families while showing a professional demeanor and behavior.
Awarded to a full-time student dentist who has encountered financial difficulties meeting the cost of the 1st year of dental school and is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Awarded to a student dentist who has completed three years of dental school in good standing and have an outstanding record of public service. Candidate should have applied for placement in the University of Kentucky Pediatric Dental Residency Program.
Awarded to a rising 4th year student dentist who is in the top 20% of class and is academically superior, demonstrates outstanding clinical skills, and has had significant involvement in student and/or community life.
Awarded to a 3rd, or 4th year student dentist who demonstrates outstanding clinical skills with a focus on General Restorative Dentistry.
The purpose of this fund is to support one or more annual scholarship(s) for dentistry student(s) enrolled in the College of Dentistry with a GPA of at least 3 .0 on a 4.0 scale, who have demonstrated unmet financial need.
Awarded to a 2nd year student dentist in the top 20% of class who has significant involvement in community service.
Awarded to a rising fourth year dental student who can demonstrate excellent clinical skills and patient interactions while displaying a professional demeanor and behavior. Preference is given to students with a strong student and community involvement
Each year, ten (10) scholarships shall be available for Kentucky residents and two (2) shall be available for residents of one of the following states: Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas or Utah. University of Kentucky College of Dentistry faculty shall nominate a pool of candidates who they feel meet the scholarship criteria
The recipient(s) of this scholarship(s) shall be selected by a scholarship committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Dentistry or the Dean’s designee (the “Scholarship Committee”)
The scholarship(s) shall be awarded to students meeting the following scholarship criteria:
Have demonstrated financial need
This scholarship(s) shall be renewable for up to three (3) additional years, if the recipient remains in good standing with College of Dentistry and if sufficient funds are available, as determined by the Scholarship Committee.
Awarded to entering 1st year student dentists of an underrepresented population, based on academic potential evidenced by past academic performance and have financial need. The College of Dentistry shall have discretion to identify additional scholarship criteria to advance its institutional and admissions goals.
The Health Professions Student Loan is a need-based, school-managed fund provided by the federal government. Parental information is required on the FAFSA to be considered. Entrance Counseling and Promissory Note must be completed before the loan is official.
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on financial need. The school determines the amount you can borrow based on your cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive. The student is required to file the FAFSA to apply. Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note must be completed for the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry before the loan is official.
Cost of Attendance: https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/cost-attendance. The total estimated expense to attend UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Tuition and Fees: https://www.uky.edu/studentaccount/tuition-fees. The specific charges for instruction and related services, excluding other living and personal expenses.