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.

All dental applicants are given a handout outlining expected dental school expenses during their admissions interview. Planning and Financing Your Dental School Education presentation is a required part of the interview schedule and provides a comprehensive overview of important financial matters and expected dental school expenses.

The priority financial aid filing date for the UNLV School of Dental Medicine is February 1. The last minute application deadline is May 1 if you expect to have financial assistance available at the time of registration.

Applicants are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. 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. Please include parental information to be considered for all types of financial assistance.

If you have questions about completing the FAFSA or need further assistance, please contact the UNLV School of Dental Medicine Financial Aid Counselor, Mick Greaves, at 702-774-2526 or via e-mail at micanel.greaves@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 $189,125. 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 $45,167 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 $38,500. 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. Interest rate for new Stafford loans effective 7/1/06 will be 6.80% fixed.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Additional funds are available through the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan program. The maximum unsubsidized amount a student is eligible for is determined after taking into consideration subsidized loan funds. Interest rate for new Stafford loans effective 7/1/06 will be 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 new federal loan option available to students for the 2006/2007 academic year. Students may apply for funds up to their remaining Cost of Attendance (COA) through this program. Approval of Graduate PLUS loan funds is contingent on student passing a credit check. Interest rate on the Graduate PLUS loan through Direct Loans is expected to be 7.90%. Further information on the Graduate PLUS loan will be available by June 1.

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