Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S)

The Dental Required Reading for D.D.S Students guide should answer most of your questions about financial aid at U-M. If you still have questions, please contact Michelle Robski, assistant director of financial aid for D.D.S students.

Michigan Resident

Non-resident

Note: D1 is a 10 month budget. D2-D4 are 12 month budgets.

The tuition figures above are based on 2024-25 rates. Figures will update in July with 2025-26 rates.

A student's Cost of Attendance goes beyond the standard tuition costs. It includes a number of factors related to attending college including living expenses, books, dental instruments, transportation, health insurance and other miscellaneous costs. Understand what the Cost of Attendance entails and how it's calculated, can help you better understand what sort of aid you can receive and plan accordingly.

¹ The tuition for 2025-26 has not been finalized. Above figures are just an estimates. Tuition and fees are set by the University of Michigan Board of Regents each June. See the Office of the Registrar’s website for current rates.

² Includes housing, meals, utilities, etc. See page 6 of Dental Required Reading for more details.

³ Includes assumption of health insurance expense.

⁴ Cost of attendance budgets will be increased by the amount of loan fees deducted from your Federal Direct Loans.

Scholarships

The School of Dentistry offers scholarships based on the admissions application. There is no separate application required to be considered for scholarship. All students are automatically considered for scholarships at the time of admissions review. If selected for a scholarship, the admitted student would be notified by the School of Dentistry at the time of admission of their scholarship offer. Most scholarship offers are renewable. Private outside scholarships sources and criteria are not listed through the university. 

Grants

Grants are funds from the university that do not need to be repaid. The School of Dentistry offers Grants based on financial need. Funds are allocated based on a student's financial need for assistance and on current federal, state, university, and School of Dentistry policies and guidelines.

Jump to ‘How to Apply for Financial Aid’ section to learn how to apply. Only awarded against fall and winter semesters.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Unsubsidized

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans (also called Stafford Loans) are part of the Federal Direct Loan Program, which is offered through the U.S. Department of Education. Loans are aid that will need to be repaid, with interest, after you graduate or leave college. Most student loans are Direct Loans offered through the U.S Department of Education. Eligible citizens and non-citizens may apply for Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Subsidized loans are only offered to undergraduate students.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students with or without financial need. These loans accrue interest while the student is in school and during deferments and grace periods. Students may defer interest payments until after they graduate, but doing so will result in a higher loan payment over the life of the loan.

Eligibility

• Non-need-based
• Enrolled at least half-time in a degree program
• Borrower must be a U.S Citizen or eligible non-citizen

Terms

Visit the Federal Student Aid website for the latest loan rate information.

Additional Information and Requirements

• Students accepting Direct Loan funds for the first time must complete an online Direct Loan Master Promissory Note before receiving their loan funds
• Limited deferment provisions; see U.S. Dept. of Education website (for information specifically for teachers)
• Visit the Federal Student Aid website for the latest loan term information.
• First-year students who are first-time borrowers must complete online Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

Borrowing Maximums

D.D.S. Health Profession students will be offered an award of $20,250 in Unsubsidized Loans against each semester a FAFSA has been filed. The aggregate lifetime borrowing loan limit is $224,000 for graduate students in a Health Profession Program (This includes Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans you received as an undergraduate). Be aware of these maximums as they may affect your eligibility for loans later in your Dental program.

Federal Health Professions Student Loan

The federal Health Professions Student Loan Program provides low-interest loans to full-time, financially needy students who are studying one of the health professions.

At U-M, the Health Professions Student Loan is available only to students who are pursuing degrees in pharmacy or dentistry. 

Eligibility

• Need-based (parental financial information required)
• Student must be enrolled at least half-time in the Dental program
• Student must meet the financial aid priority application deadline

Terms

• 5% fixed interest
• Federally funded
• Repayment is deferred, no interest while student is enrolled at least half-time
• Twelve-month grace period before repayment begins
• Minimum monthly repayment: $40

Additional Information and Requirements

• Special deferment provisions for volunteer service, see the U.S. Dept. of Education website
• Students must review the Health Professions Loan Rights and Responsibilities on Wolverine Access each year before disbursement
• Students who have not previously signed a master promissory note must do so on Wolverine Access. You must also complete a Rights and Responsibilities Statement each year before disbursement

Federal Grad PLUS Loan

Direct PLUS Loans are part of the federal Direct Loan Program. Unlike most other federal student loans, PLUS Loans are not awarded when you apply for aid. Graduate/professional students apply separately for the PLUS (in addition to completing a FAFSA) if they need additional funds to cover college costs.

Eligibility

• Non-need-based
• Graduate student is the borrower
• Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when applying for a Grad PLUS Loan
• Borrowers must have an acceptable credit history or a loan endorser with an acceptable credit history
• Enrolled at least half-time in degree program
• Borrower must be a U.S citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Borrower cannot be 90 days or more delinquent on the repayment of any debt or the subject of a default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lein, wage garnishment, or write-off of a Title IV debt during the last five years

Terms

Visit the Federal Student Aid website for the latest loan rate information.

Additional Information and Requirements

• PLUS loans may be consolidated with other Direct Loans
• Borrowers accepting PLUS Loan funds for the first time must complete an online Master Promissory Note and Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Exit Counseling (Note: This is not the same as the Financial Awareness Counseling Tool on the same site)  
• Exit Counseling is required when students graduate or drop below half-time
• Find more information from the U.S. Department of Education

Private Loans

Private student loans are offered through a variety of banks and other lenders. Students interested in using private loans must apply separately for them through an individual lender of their own choice. 

Learn more about Private Loans.

Child Care Subsidy

The University of Michigan offers the Child Care Subsidy to students to assist with the cost of childcare of their young, dependent children. International students may also be eligible. Learn more on the Child Care Subsidy website.

Federal Work-Study & Other Jobs

Federal Work-Study is a program for students who have financial need that funds part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students. The U-M Student Employment Office also posts job opportunities on the U-M campus and in the surrounding communities that are open to all students.

Due to the D.D.S program plan, Federal Work-Study is not offered to D.D.S. students. Special exceptions can be made with approval from the Financial Aid Office and the School of Dental Dean. Funding is need-based and is earned by working for eligible employers on- and off-campus. Students must be enrolled full-time in a degree program. Restrictions apply and limited funding is available.

Eligibility

Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens as defined by the U.S. Department of Education to apply for federal aid. Students must be enrolled in a program leading to a degree in order to qualify for all aid programs. To be considered for all financial aid programs (including grants and the Health Professions Loan) follow these steps and note the deadlines below:

1. Complete the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website. Use the University of Michigan Ann Arbor school code G02325. The Dental School code will not work.
2. In early April, if you have completed a FAFSA we will email you a request for additional documents. If you are interested in consideration for the Health Profession Student Loan and/or the School of Dentistry Grant you will want to complete the “D.D.S. Student Financial Aid Applicant Data Form”. Please note that this form is optional. However, if you do not submit the form, you will only be considered for the Unsubsidized Loan. You will not be considered for the Health Profession Student Loan nor the School of Dentistry Grant.

If you need additional aid, such as the Grad PLUS loan, students must complete a separate application from that of the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website. Students interested in private loans, must apply for the loan through the loan lender of their own choosing. Please note that it can take up to four weeks for us to process these supplemental loans.

Suggested Deadlines for Entering D.D.S Students

• April 30: Deadline to submit the FAFSA
• May 12: Deadline to submit any additional documents

Suggested Deadlines for Continuing D.D.S Students

• March 31: Deadline to submit the FAFSA
• April 12: Deadline to submit any additional documents

We will review your file after receiving your FAFSA data and other documents. Email notification will begin in April. You will receive an email message indicating that an electronic award letter is available on Wolverine Access for you to view/print. If this is the first time you have received a federal direct loan at U-M, you will receive information about how to complete an electronic Master Promissory Note(s) and online Entrance Counseling.

Review the FAQ financial aid questions on the Financial Aid Next Steps website.

For additional information about financial aid for D.D.S. students, contact:

Michelle Robski
Assistant Director of Financial Aid for School of Dentistry - D.D.S Program
1011 N. University, Rm G226
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078
Phone: 734-647-8592 
Email: [email protected]

For information about the Dentistry programs at U-M, visit the School of Dentistry website.