Dental Scholarships
The ADA Foundation offers dental scholarships to students pursuing careers as dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental lab technicians. The number of scholarships they award is dependent upon available funds. Scholarship disbursements are made twice yearly in equal payments and sent directly to the dental school. The second disbursement is made contingent upon the student's maintenance of the required grade point average.
Scholarships for Dentists
ADA Foundation scholarship programs for dentists include the Dental Student Scholarship and the Minority Dental Student Scholarship. The Minority Dental Student Scholarship is funded in part by Harry J. Bosworth Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Proctor & Gamble and Sunstar Americas.
Both scholarships have a maximum annual award of $2500 and have the same general applicant criteria. The only exception is that only dental students of African American, Hispanic and Native American descent are eligible to apply for the Minority Dental Student Scholarship. These minority groups have been identified as being underrepresented in dental school enrollment.
In addition to ADA scholarships, there are also other dental scholarship programs that provide funds to eligible dental schools for the purpose of providing scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in health professions programs. They include the Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students, the National Dental Association Foundation/Colgate Palmolive Scholarship, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarships (HPSP), and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Awards Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students, to name a few.
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students provide funds to eligible dentist schools for the purpose of providing dental scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in health professions programs.
The National Dental Association Foundation/Colgate Palmolive Scholarship is open to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students, as well as post-doctoral candidates looking to specialize in an area of dentistry.
Dental students may compete for NHSC scholarships beginning in their sophomore and junior years. This scholarship pays for tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment and monthly stipends. In exchange, the recipient must agree to provide oral health services in any underserved community identified by the NHSC as being a critical need area, for a minimum of two years.
The U.S. Armed Services offer the highly competitive HPSP scholarships to dental students that pay tuition, feels, books and a monthly stipend. The active duty obligation is one year of service for each year of scholarship support with a minimum of three years of active duty service. Dental scholarships are available annually from all service branches.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research program provides underrepresented minority and women dental students an opportunity to obtain research experience during their professional training. Recipients receive a monthly stipend during training periods. Applicants must be a US citizen enrolled in a U.S. dental school, a non-citizen national of the U.S., or lawfully admitted for permanent residence. All minorities are eligible, but NIDCR determines if minority status is underrepresented. All recipients must sign an agreement that they will fulfill payback requirements.
Dental Assistant Scholarships
The ADA Foundation dental scholarship program for dental assistants is called the Dental Assisting Scholarship. The Dental Assistant Scholarship has a maximum annual award of $1,000. The application criteria includes:
- applicants must be U.S. citizens (permanent resident status does not qualify);
- applicants must be an entering student at the time of application and enrolled in an accredited dental assisting program;
- applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours;
- applicants must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $1,000;
- applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale;
- must submit two (2) reference forms, one from a dentist or dental assisting representative and/or one from a school official (e.g. professor or academic adviser), supporting the applicant.
Dental Lab Technician Scholarships
The ADA Foundation dental scholarship program for dental technicians is called the Dental Laboratory Technology Scholarship. This award has a maximum annual award of $1,000 and is partly funded in part by Handler Manufacturing, Inc. Applicants for the Dental Laboratory Technology scholarship must:
- be a U.S. citizen (permanent resident status does not qualify);
- be approaching their final year of study at the time of application and enrolled in an accredited dental lab technology program;
- be enrolled full-time with a minimum of 12 credit hours;
- must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $1,000;
- must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0;
- must submit two (2) references from dental laboratory technician program representatives.
Dental Hygienist Scholarhips
The ADA Foundation dental scholarship program for dental hygienists is the Dental Hygiene Scholarship. This award has a maximum annual award of $1,000. The Dental Hygiene Scholarship criteria includes the following:
- All applicants must be U.S. citizens (permanent resident status does not qualify);
- All applicants must be entering their final year as a student at the time of application and enrolled in a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the ADA;
- All applicants must be enrolled as full-time students with a minimum of 12 credit hours;
- All applicants must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $1,000;
- All applicants must have a minimum accumulative GPA of 3.0;
- All applicants must submit two (2) reference forms from two dental hygiene program representatives.
This Website was compiled using a variety of resources and is not intended to substitute or replace the professional financial advice. The content provided is strictly for informational purposes on financing a career or education. Please seek additional information and consult a professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding financing a dental or other professional career.
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