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Student Debt chart Dental students graduate with an average of $312,000 in student debt. For many new dentists, student debt impacts where they choose to practice and if they want to pursue a residency. ASDA supports initiatives to reduce the burden of dental student debt to give young dentists more autonomy over their career. 

Recent Changes

Student loans are critical to accessing dental school. In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law, which will result in several student loan changes for dental students. Changes to the Grad PLUS program, federal borrowing limits and repayment options are set to go into effect July 1, 2026.

Learn More and Access Resources

If you have questions pertaining to the recent changes to student loans, please email advocacydept@asdanet.org.

The American Student Dental Association recognizes the importance of access to affordable student loans to finance dental education. ASDA believes dental students should be able to borrow up to the cost of attending dental school, including cost of living expenses, and opposes imposing borrowing caps on federal and private student loans.

ASDA advocates for subsidized student loans where interest begins accruing six months after graduation. Payments and interest on student loans should be deferred for the duration of an accredited dental residency program.

(F-3 Policy)


Recent Events

2026

  • April 2026: The Department of Education (ED) finalized rules to implement changes to federal student loans. The rules include a yearly borrowing cap of $50,000 for professional students and a aggregate lifetime borrowing cap of $257,500 across all degree programs. Dental students can borrow up to $200,000, minus any loans taken out for prior graduate programs, for dental school.
  • March 2026: A federal district judge ruled the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan unconstitutional. The ED is expected to release further guidance for borrowers.

2025

  • Oct. 2025: The ED issued a new rule stating that employees of organizations that have a “substantial illegal purpose” will be ineligible for PSLF. Read more. Several organizations have pursued legal challenges, which are ongoing.
  • July 2025: President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, which included sweeping changes to federal student loans.
  • March 2025: President Trump signed an executive order to take steps to close the ED.

The American Student Dental Association supports initiatives to reduce the burden of debt for dental students. The association urges Congress, state legislatures, and state dental associations to pass measures that include, but are not limited to:

  1. Reducing student loan interest rates;
  2. Providing refinancing opportunities to borrowers;
  3. Providing opportunities for loan forgiveness, scholarships, grants and tax deductibility.

(F-4 Policy)

The association urges dental schools to provide timely, comprehensive, and accessible financial aid counseling to dental students that can be tailored to individual needs to make an informed decision.

The association urges student loan service providers and federal state governments to minimize disruptions to processing student loan payments and forgiveness for qualifying borrowers. ASDA believes borrowers should have access to accurate information about loans, including repayment options and interest rates, to make an informed decision.

(F-2 Policy)

What has ASDA done?

ASDA policy drives advocacy efforts that emphasize the importance of access to affordable student loans for dental school.

In February 2026, ASDA signed onto a coalition letter to the ED requesting and one-year delay to the implementation of changes to federal student loans from One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read the letter.

ASDA is committed to advocating for policies that make dental education affordable and accessible. Here’s just a glimpse of what ASDA has accomplished recently:

✓ 1,097 ASDA Action letters sent for the REDI Act during Legislative Action Week

✓ 1,680 ASDA Action letters sent opposing student loan changes passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill

✓ 5 coalition letters signed advocating for access to affordable federal student loans

Take Action on Current Student Debt Legislation

More Resources for Dental Students

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