Students at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are eligible to participate in a number of financial assistance programs. The types of funds available to each student are determined by financial need. Students may receive funds up to their Cost of Attendance (COA), which is an estimate of direct and indirect costs using rules established by the U.S. Department of Education.

The priority financial aid filing date for the UNLV School of Dental Medicine is February 1. The regular deadline May 1. It is important to file your FAFSA prior to May 1 in order to ensure that your financial aid package is available prior to the start of the semester.

The first step in the financial aid process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA information is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine financial need. All dental students will be funded at 100% of the Cost of Attendance regardless of the EFC. However, the level of the EFC may determine if a student can qualify for need or non-need based aid.

If you have questions about completing the FAFSA or need further assistance, please contact Dr. Christopher A. Kypuros, Director of Financial Aid, Scholarships & Academic Endeavors at Christopher.Kypuros@unlv.edu. You may also contact the main Financial Aid & Scholarships office for assistance at 702-895-3424.

There are a number of loan programs available to dental students.

Stafford Loan
The Stafford Loan program offers low interest federal education loans. Students will automatically be considered for Stafford loan funds as a result of filing the FAFSA. The maximum (aggregate) amount of Stafford loan funds a dental student may borrow throughout their entire educational career (from undergraduate freshman through dental residency training) is $224,000. Please view your student loan borrowing history online through the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to be fully aware of your particular situation. Students may borrow a maximum of $47,167 in Stafford loan funds per academic year for the first three years of dental school. Stafford loan amount for final year is based on COA for two semesters and will be no more than $40,500. Depending on financial need, the Stafford loan funds awarded to a student may be a combination of subsidized and unsubsidized funds, or only unsubsidized funds.

Subsidized Stafford Loan
You may qualify for Subsidized Stafford Loan funds based on financial need. The federal government subsidizes the interest as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. Qualified students may borrow a maximum of $8,500 in subsidized loan funds per academic year. The interest rate for new Stafford loans is 6.80% fixed.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
The Unsubsidized Stafford loan is a non-need based loan. The maximum unsubsidized amount a student is eligible for is determined after taking into consideration eligibility for a subsidized loan funds. The interest rate for new Stafford loans is 6.80% fixed. The government does not subsidize the interest on this loan. The borrower has the option of paying the interest as it accrues or may have it capitalized. Quarterly interest statements are mailed to the borrower. Interest accrual can also be viewed online through the Direct Loan Servicing Center website. Students are strongly encouraged to pay interest on the unsubsidized Stafford loan each quarter and are advised of this during the interview process and throughout their dental education.

Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL)
The Health Professions Student Loan has an interest rate of 5% and interest is subsidized while the student maintains at least half-time enrollment. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $13,000 per academic year, and are determined by parental income, academic costs, financial need, and availability of funding. Repayment of HPSL funds begins twelve months after graduation with a maximum repayment period of ten years. Application for HPSL funds requires the submission of parental income information. The only exception to this requirement is if BOTH parents are deceased. HPSL application packets will be mailed to students as the HPSL funds become available.

Perkins Loan
The Perkins loan has an interest rate of 5% and interest is subsidized while the student maintains at least half-time enrollment. Maximum award amount per academic year is $6,000 and is determined by academic costs, financial need, and availability of funding. Repayment of the Perkins loan begins nine months after graduation with a maximum repayment period of ten years.

Graduate PLUS Loan
The Graduate PLUS loan. is a non-need based loan available to dental students. The Grad PLUS loan does not have an annual or aggregate limit, however funds will only be awarded up to the full cost of attendance. Approval of Graduate PLUS loan funds is contingent on the student passing a basic credit check. If you are awarded this loan, please be sure to complete the Grad PLUS worksheet available at finaid.unlv.edu at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester. The interest rate on the Graduate PLUS loan is 7.90%.

Alternative Loans
If federal loan funds are not enough to cover all expenses, alternative private loans are available as a last resort option and generally have higher interest rates than federal loan funds. You may borrow alternative loan funds to meet your remaining Cost of Attendance (COA). Alternative loans are provided by private lenders and cannot be consolidated with federal loans.

Alternative loan information is available online for your consideration.

Although access to scholarships may be limited for dental students, you are encouraged to search through the scholarship links provided on the UNLV Financial Aid & Scholarships website for further information. Another useful source of information regarding scholarships is the American Dental Education Association website.

Other sources of scholarship funding that have service commitments attached to them are as follows:

• Indian Health Service
• United States Air Force
• United States Army
• United States Navy
  

To ensure that you receive your funds on-time, please follow these basic steps.

1. Complete the FAFSA by the priority or regular deadline date.
2. Once notification is received, accept of decline the aid offered to you through UNLV’s My Aid login available at finaid.unlv.edu
3. If you are accepting the Grad PLUS loan, complete the Grad PLUS worksheet.
4. Complete the entrance counseling and Master Promissory notes for all loans. Links to both of these sites are available at finaid.unlv.edu.

When these steps are completed, your funds will be set-up to disburse. Your financial aid will first pay your tuition bill and the remaining funds will be sent to you. These funds typically disburse the Friday before the start of the semester. In order to expedite access to your aid, you are encouraged to participate in UNLV’s Electronic Funds Transfer/Direct Deposit. To sign-up, please visit cashiering.unlv.edu.

ADA Loan Repayment Programs and Resources

Source: American Dental Association, Office of Student Affairs. Dental Student Loan Repayment Programs and Resources. Chicago, IL: American Dental Association, August 2011.