From acceptance letter to DDS or DMD, we have loans that support your dental school journey.
Here are our current dental student loan interest rates:
3.89%
to 15.99% APR
2.59%
to 15.99% APR
(all rates shown include auto-pay discount)2
Pursuing dental school is a costly endeavor, but with smart planning, you can pay back your loans your way. We're here to help you consider all the costs associated with dental school, preparing you for the many years of schooling ahead. Choosing whether you want a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate2 is one of the first steps to paying for dental school.
3.89%
to 15.99% APR
*all rates shown include auto-pay discount2
Variable interest rates are tied to a market index and will fluctuate - up or down - over time with the market. This will change your monthly payment amount.
Changes to the rate are typically based on a publicly available interest rate index such as the prime rate or SOFR.
2.59%
to 15.99% APR
*all rates shown include auto-pay discount2
Fixed interest rates stay the same for the entire repayment period. You will have the same monthly payment amount every month after entering full repayment.
| College Ave | Sallie Mae | Citizens Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Repayment Options |
4 |
3 | 3 |
| Select Your Own Repayment Term |
|
Limited | Limited |
| Apply in as Little as 3 Minutes |
|
|
|
| Grace Period | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months |
| Deferment During Residency |
|
|
|
*Comparisons based on information obtained on lenders’ websites as of January 28th, 2026.
You've picked a profession you love, and we're here to help you get there. College Ave Dental School Loans come with great rates and give you control over how quickly you pay the loan back. We can help take away the uncertainty of borrowing for dental school so you can focus on learning.
1
Evaluate your graduate school program length, timing, along with your credit score and financial situation.
Understand your current financial standing, including your credit score and any existing debt. Consider how long you plan to be in graduate school and how much you can comfortably borrow. Graduate students can apply to cover their full program year, giving you confidence grad school is covered.
2
Weigh the importance of loan repayment terms, grace periods and deferment.
When deciding to go to graduate school, you will need to find a loan that fits your program. College Ave offers graduate loans structured for your degree, like deferment while in residency, clerkship or fellowship.
3
Compare interest rates from private lenders and evaluate originations fees.
Compare rates from lenders and be sure to consider any origination fees that may be associated with taking a loan. Taking the time to compare lenders side by side can help you feel confident you're choosing the best option for your financial goals, with fewer surprises down the road.
4
Take the Next Step in Your Career with College Ave
Ensure your graduate school is fully covered with a private student loan from College Ave. Once approved, we’ll work directly with your school to certify the loan, making it an easy process and setting you up for success.
1
Evaluate your graduate school program length, timing, along with your credit score and financial situation.
Understand your current financial standing, including your credit score and any existing debt. Consider how long you plan to be in graduate school and how much you can comfortably borrow. Graduate students can apply to cover their full program year, giving you confidence grad school is covered.
2
Weigh the importance of loan repayment terms, grace periods and deferment.
When deciding to go to graduate school, you will need to find a loan that fits your program. College Ave offers graduate loans structured for your degree, like deferment while in residency, clerkship or fellowship.
3
Compare interest rates from private lenders and evaluate originations fees.
Compare rates from lenders and be sure to consider any origination fees that may be associated with taking a loan. Taking the time to compare lenders side by side can help you feel confident you're choosing the best option for your financial goals, with fewer surprises down the road.
4
Take the Next Step in Your Career with College Ave
Ensure your graduate school is fully covered with a private student loan from College Ave. Once approved, we’ll work directly with your school to certify the loan, making it an easy process and setting you up for success.
You must be enrolled in a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Dental Medicine (DMD) degree program at an eligible school to qualify for the College Ave Student Loans Dental School Loan.
The answer is, "it depends". It depends on whether you're taking out a federal student loan or a private student loan for school.
As of July 1, 2026, new Dental school students can take out up to $50,000 in Federal Direct unsubsidized loans each year they're in school with a lifetime/aggregate limit of $200,000.
Federal Direct PLUS loans for graduate school (also referred to as Grad PLUS loans) do not have an annual cap, you can borrow up to your cost of attendance each year. However, Grad PLUS loans are being eliminated from the federal student loan program as of July 1, 2026, with the passage of new legislation in July 2025 (also referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill").
If you're taking out a private Dental school student loan, the maximum amount you can borrow may depend on the lender. College Ave's dental student loan allow you to borrow up to the total cost of attendance1 for dental school, minus any federal loans, grants, scholarships, and other aid you may have received.
Federal PLUS student loans often used for graduate dental programs are unsubsidized loans meaning they will accrue interest while in-school. Private student loans for dental school, like our dental loan option, also accrue interest while you're attending dental school.
Residency deferment allows you to postpone your Dental School Loan payments during your residency programs, hitting pause on your payments for a period of time.
College Ave dental school loans do qualify for a residency deferment. You should contact us in advance if you plan to use this option for your dental school loan. It's important to know that your loan will continue to accrue interest even while in deferment so it's best to make payments if you can, to continue paying down your balance.
Footnotes
As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
Variable rates may increase after consummation. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a first year graduate student borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 6.27% fixed Annual Percentage Rate ("APR"): 33 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $145.75 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $14,817.03. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a first-year graduate student borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.10% fixed Annual Percentage Rate ("APR"): 120 monthly payments of $141.66 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $16,699.21. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.