Becoming a dentist is expensive. In the past 10 years, dental school tuition has nearly doubled, putting the average non-resident cost of a four-year, public institution dental education at close to $230,000 (and even more for a private school). ASDA is constantly advocating for solutions to the increasing student loan debt. What can you do to manage your money while you’re still in school?

One of the tricky parts of student loans is the terminology. And what’s the deal with deferment? Read more below.

Know what you're signing up for.

• Review this glossary of loan repayment terms.
• Read “FAQs for the financially-confounded dental student” from the summer 2012 issue of Mouth.
• Check out NASFAA’s website for state financial aid programs and more about financial aid.
• Read "Funding your dental education" in the October 2012 issue of ASDA News.

Always use a budget.

The summer 2012 issue of Mouth is all about money. 

Helpful resources to navigate the financial waters of dental school:

• How to budget now: budgeting tips for single students and married couples.
• The costly investment of applying to dental school: a breakdown of how much an application, interview and travel can cost.
• Renting versus buying while in dental school: an in-depth look at the advantages and disadvantages of renting and buying.
• Use Mint or Manilla to keep track of your budget and keep track of your savings.
• Read CNN Money’s personal finance section for info about the housing market and more.
• Read Time’s Moneyland for personal finance topics among other news in economics.
• Download the ADA’s “Financial Planning Issues for Dental Students” PDF.

Research loan repayment programs.

Luckily, there are many options when it comes to repaying your loans.
Here are a few places to get started:

• Consider research with the NIH Loan Repayment program.
• By joining the National Health Service Corps, you can pay off your loans while serving a community affected by barriers to care.
• Indian Health Service offers loan repayment positions and externships serving American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Access more resources.

ASDA does not endorse any of the books and blogs listed below, but suggests you look into these resources as a good place to start:

• Once a month, Mouthing Off features a financial post under the “Money Monday” category. Subscribe to get these posts and every post right in your inbox.
• “The Millionaire Next Door” covers saving money and earning money.
• “The Total Money Makeover” is for those struggling with debt. Another get out of debt book is Jerrold Mundis’ “How to get out of debt, stay out of debt, and live prosperously.”
 
• Looking for a six-week program and a dash of sarcasm? Pick up “I will teach you to be rich” by Ramit Sethi.
• WiseBread is run by a community of bloggers with the tagline “living large on a small budget.”
• And Then We Saved is a blog by Anna Newell Jones who started a spending fast to get out of debt. She tracks her journey and success through her blog and now passes on money-saving tips to her readers.
• Squawkfox offers tips and budget calculators for living a frugal life.
• Read "A budgeting curveball: financing your job search" 2013 April ASDA News and "Retirement planning for students" 2012 September ASDA News to gain insights into your financial future.

For more resources, visit the scholarships and grants page.