Since becoming a dentist requires eight years of school, it can be very expensive. If you choose to go to undergraduate school in Hawaii and dental school out of state the average cost of tuition is $347,493, and that number can be even higher if you choose to earn your bachelor’s degree outside of Hawaii.
1) Federal aid
Dental schools are FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) eligible, meaning you are eligible to receive federal aid to help you pay for your tuition. Federal aid comes in the form of grants (which you don’t have to pay back), loans (which you do have to pay back), and work-study (which provides an opportunity to earn money to pay your educational expenses).
If you have questions on how federal aid works and how to fill out the FAFSA, you can find helpful resources at the Hawaii P-20 website on financial aid here.
2) WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program
Since there is no dental school in Hawaii, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) provides substantial tuition assistance for Hawaii residents who attend certain dental schools on the mainland. In exchange, after graduation the students return to Hawaii to work for a certain number of years. According to WICHE, participants in PSEP can save $36,500 to $142,800 by participating in the program.
Make sure to apply early, as applications usually open in the fall of the year before you attend dental school.
3) Scholarships
There are many scholarships specifically for dental students. Since you don’t have to pay back scholarships, they are a great way to pay for your tuition!
- HDS Foundation Scholarships
- Hawaii Community Foundation Scholarships
- American Student Dental Association Scholarships
- National Dental Association Foundation Scholarships
- American Dental Education Association Scholarships
- National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
- Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
4) Loan repayment
There are also programs that help you pay for school after you graduate. Hawaii offers loan repayment options for eligible dentists to help them pay off their student loans while working in Hawaii. Through these programs, you can earn a salary and have your loans partially repaid at the same time!
You can apply to either the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program or the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program for loan repayment assistance.
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