Eligibility

Find which financial aid options may be available to you based on your program of study and citizenship status. Each type of financial aid has a unique set of eligibility criteria that determine who may be considered for assistance. If you have any additional questions about your eligibility, you can reach out to the Office of Financial Aid where our team may be able to provide answers.

Determining Aid Eligibility

Students must apply for financial aid annually. The financial aid application cycle usually begins in late January/early February. Each student’s aid eligibility is determined based on multiple factors, including the student’s academic program, the annual cost of attendance for the program, and the financial need of the applicant.

The cost of attendance, also called the financial aid budget, is based on the annual billed charges for tuition and fees and the indirect costs associated with the student’s attendance in their program. Tuition and fees are established annually by the Dental school administration and the Tufts Board of Trustees. The indirect costs vary by academic program.

Indirect costs include living expenses (rent, utilities, food, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses), books, supplies and other materials. These indirect costs are also adjusted annually with the help of multiple sources such as student surveys, consumer price indexes provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and information provided by various departments within the school as well as agencies that manage required board and licensing exams.

Federal student financial aid regulations dictate what types of costs/expenses can be included in the cost of attendance. To this end, the school must set a uniform living expense allowance for those living off-campus or with a parent/other relative (other than their spouse). Financial aid is meant to support the student’s costs associated with their attendance at TUSDM and is not meant to support the student’s spouse.

The Financial Aid Office will review the student’s financial aid application materials to determine the amount of financial aid the student can receive. For any needs-based aid program, the Student Aid Index (SAI) is subtracted from the student’s cost of attendance to determine the maximum needs-based funding the student can receive. Some needs-based programs require the use of parental information to determine eligibility in addition to the student’s SAI.

Please remember that the financial aid the student receives can never exceed the cost of attendance set by the school. The financial aid programs for which the student can apply are based on the student’s educational program as well as their U.S. Citizenship status.