Aid Types

Merit scholarship awards are determined by the Office of Admissions at the time the student is accepted to the school. Continuing students are awarded merit scholarship based on their GPA and rank at the completion of their academic year. Recipients are determined by the Office of Enrollment Services and approved by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. Scholarship amounts vary based on available funding and are determined by the Admissions Office and Office of Enrollment Services.

Tufts Grant amounts vary based on funding levels and usually do not exceed $35,000. Tufts Grant is needs based and both parent and student financial information determines eligibility. Tufts Grant funding consists of both TUSDM-sponsored funding provided by the Dental administration as well as donor-sponsored endowment funding. Should student’s Tufts Grant be partially funded by an endowed scholarship, students will be notified.

Tufts Loans are need-based and both parent and student financial information determines eligibility.

• Maximum Loan Amount – Varies based on funding levels but usually does not exceed $20,000
• Interest Rate - 5% (Loans borrowed/disbursed on or after 7/1/2017)
• No interest is charged while the student is enrolled or during 6-month post-enrollment grace period.
• Deferments are available for up to 5 years for students participating in a post-graduate specialty program, an internship/residency, or a graduate fellowship. Interest will accrue during any post-enrollment deferment period. Any unpaid interest that accrues during such a period will capitalize onto the loan principal prior to repayment.

HPSL and LDS awards are need-based, and federal statutes require that both student and parent financial information is used to determine eligibility.

• Maximum Loan Amount – Varies based on funding levels but usually does not exceed $20,000.
• Interest Rate – 5%
• No interest accrues during the student’s in-school period, 12-month grace period which immediately follows graduation or withdrawal. No interest accrues during eligible deferment periods.
• Deferment available (after expiration of 12-month grace period) for up to 3 years for those considered on active duty for the US Armed Forces or Peace Corps volunteer or while pursuing advanced professional training (unlimited time) or up to 2 years to pursue related professional educational activity or training fellowship.
• Should the student be awarded HPSL or LDS, the student/borrower completes a promissory note directly with Tufts University.

The Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan is a non-needs-based loan program. Please refer to Important Federal Financial Aid Changes to determine if you are considered a new borrower or legacy borrower.

Annual Loan Limits:

• DMD/DIS Legacy Borrower - Maximum Annual Loan Amount – $40,500 - $47,167 prorated based on length of student’s academic year.
• DMD/DIS New Borrower – Maximum Annual Loan Amount - $50,000
• PG New or Legacy Borrower - Maximum is $20,500.

Aggregate Loan Limits:

• DMD/DIS Legacy Borrower - $224,000 includes current outstanding principal balance on all federal Direct/FFELP loans received.
• DMD/DIS New Borrower - $200,000 includes original principal borrowed on all graduate and professional federal Direct/FFLEP loans; $257,500 includes original principal borrowed on all federal Direct/FFELP borrowed, including college, graduate and professional loans.
• PG Legacy Borrower - $138,500 includes current outstanding principal of federal Direct/FFELP loans borrowed MINUS the additional annual amount in excess of $20,500 that students received during their health professions program.
• PG New Borrower - $100,000 includes original principal borrowed on all graduate and professional federal Direct/FFELP loans MINUS the additional annual amount in excess of $20,500 that students received during their health professions program.

Interest Rate:

• Loans borrowed on or after 7/1/2013: Based on Treasury Note + 3.6%; rate will remain fixed for life of loan; interest rate for loans borrowed between 7/1/2026 through 6/30/2027 = 8.07%
• Origination Fee: 1.057% (through 9/30/2027)
• For interest rates on loans borrowed before 7/1/2013, click here

Grad PLUS is a non-needs-based loan however the borrower must maximize their annual Federal Direct Loan eligibility before applying for Grad PLUS.

• Maximum Loan Amount – equal to the student’s annual cost of attendance less other financial aid.

Interest Rate:

• Loans borrowed on or after 7/1/2013: Based on Treasury Note + 4.6%; rate will remain fixed for life of loan; interest rate for loans borrowed between 7/1/2026 through 6/30/2027 = 9.07%
• Origination Fee: 4.228% (through 9/30/2027)
• For interest rates on loans borrowed before 7/1/2013, click here

Return of Service programs usually involve a student being awarded a full-tuition scholarship and living stipend. In exchange for receipt of these funds, students will be required to work for the sponsoring organization post-graduation as outlined in their contractual agreement. The return of service commitment is usually 1:1: for every year that a student is funded, they will be expected to serve with that organization for one year after graduation. Most students sign-up for full four-year ROS programs, so that means they would have a four-year commitment after they graduate. The US Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs are the most common ROS programs among TUSDM dental students.

Return of Service scholarships, living stipends and indirect cost allowances funded by the organization are considered financial aid resources, therefore they must be included in a student’s financial aid package. Students are obligated to immediately inform the Financial Aid Office of any outside scholarship awarded to them. The school is not notified of newly accepted HPSP and NHSC scholarship recipients until after the academic year has started. This may result in the Financial Aid Office making required revisions to a student’s financial aid awards based on a change in their eligibility which would involve reducing and/or canceling processed financial aid awards to make room for the scholarship, gross living stipend and indirect cost allowance. If a student has already received their eRefund for the semester and they are accepted to HPSP or NHSC, they must be prepared to return all or a portion of their refund as they may have received funds they are no longer eligible to keep.

Learn more here.

The Military HPSP will cover 100% of a student’s tuition and fees and provide a monthly living expense stipend for each year that an accepted student participates in the program. Reimbursement for required books and supplies is also available. A minimum three-year commitment is required. Students who participate in this program are usually stationed on a base after they graduate.

Information on various military branches that offer HPSP benefits is available on the following websites:

• Air Force
• Army – Army Medical Scholarships
• Navy

Applications for HPSP should be submitted directly to the military branch of your choice.

NHSC will cover 100% of a participant’s tuition and fees, as well as provide them with a monthly living stipend. An allowance for required books and supplies is also available. The NHSC requires a minimum two-year commitment, though three- and four-year participants are strongly preferred. Students participating in this program work at an NHSC-approved site post-graduation, usually in an underserved, rural area.

Additional information on the NHSC Scholarship is available.

Applications for the NHSC should be submitted directly to the NHSC, though there are components that require financial aid and registration certification.

The MDSSP is an incentive-based program offered by the US National Guard. Participants receive a monthly stipend in exchange for committing to a one-year service obligation for every six months the stipend is received. There is no tuition scholarship portion of the MDSSP. Limited post-graduate student opportunities are available on a case-by-case basis. Service obligation begins immediately upon graduation.

Information on this program is available here. Applications for the MDSSP should be submitted directly to the National Guard.

Private education loans are non-federal loans offered by private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and other lending institutions. Legacy borrowers can choose to borrow private education loans as opposed to federal student loans, replacing the Unsubsidized Direct Loan and/or the Grad PLUS. Since new borrowers don’t qualify for Grad PLUS, private education loans can help meet the gap between the student’s cost of attendance and what institutional and/or federal student loans can provide. International students can apply for private education loans but usually they will need to include a qualified US citizen or permanent resident as co-signer.

Get informed about private loan options