Working in the field of dentistry comes with lucrative pay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a dentist in 2020 was $164,000, while dental hygienists earned a median salary of $77,000, and dental assistants received a median salary of $41,000. Those salaries do come with a hefty price tag, as attending dental school can cost between $38,000 to over $62,000 per year, with some programs costing as much as $100,000 a year.
To help numb the pain of college tuition, we’ve pulled a list of 10 scholarships to help fund your dental school degree:
- American Dental Association Foundation Dental Student Scholarship Program
This scholarship program recognizes dental students who are strong academically and who demonstrate outstanding promise in leadership, public service/volunteerism and/or research. The scholarships are available to all dental students in accredited U.S. dental schools who are enrolled full time in the second or third year of study at the time of application, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.4, and demonstrate financial need.
Amount awarded: $11,000 - Crest Oral-B Laboratories Dental Hygiene Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to applicants at the baccalaureate degree level who demonstrate an intent to encourage professional excellence and scholarship, promote quality research, and support dental hygiene through public and private education. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. dental hygiene program and must have completed a minimum of one year in a dental hygiene curriculum.
Amount awarded: $1,000 - Dr. Clifton & Lois Dummett Scholarship
This scholarship is available to full-time, post-doctoral students pursuing an additional degree in a sub-specialty of dentistry in public health, administration, pediatrics, research, or law. A master’s degree beyond residency training will be considered. Amount awarded: $10,000 - IMANA Dental School Scholarship
This one-year, merit-based scholarship is intended to cover tuition and qualified educational expenses such as tuition, fees, course-related costs, books, supplies, and equipment. Applicants must be pursuing a dentistry degree and attending a U.S. accredited institution.
Amount awarded: $5,000 - Hispanic Dental Association Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive Company Dental Residency or Specialty Scholarship Program
Scholarships in the amount of $4,000 will be awarded to dental students and $2,000 for dental hygiene students who seek scientific and applied clinical knowledge during their academic journey of their dental professional program. Eligible applicants: First, second, third, fourth year dental students and first and second year dental hygiene students.
Amount awarded: $2,000 – $4,000 - Colgate “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” Minority Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded to members of minority groups currently underrepresented in dental hygiene programs at the associate educational level. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited dental hygiene program in the U.S. and have completed a minimum of one year in a dental hygiene curriculum.
Amount awarded: $2,000 - Pre-Doctoral Student Scholarship
This scholarship is available to full-time second, third, or fourth year dental students in good academic standing who have evidence of community service.
Amount awarded: $1,000 - Dental Hygiene Scholarship
This scholarship is available to current dental hygiene students in good academic standing. Applicants must be a full-time undergraduate student attending a university in the U.S.
Amount awarded: $800 - Dr. Joseph L. Henry First Year Scholarship
This scholarship is available to full-time, first year dentistry students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or greater and have an acceptance letter to an accredited dental school (from the Dean of Students).
Amount awarded; $2,000 - Dental Assistant Scholarship
Applicants for this scholarship must be a current undergraduate student studying to be a dental assistant and be in good academic standing with evidence of community service. Must be a full-time student attending a U.S. university.
Amount awarded: $500
RELATED: Become a Dental Hygienist in 8 Easy Steps
Looking for more scholarships? Visit our scholarship database to search for more opportunities to fund your education.
If you’re studying for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), check out Peterson’s DAT test prep which includes two practice tests to help you prepare for the exam.
