Dental Loan Repayment/Forgiveness Programs

Specific to Northern New England

The Maine Dental Education Loan Repayment Program is sponsored by Delta Dental and administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
The Delta Dental Plan of Maine has generously committed over $1 million to the University of New England College of Dental Medicine to establish a scholarship and loan repayment program, the UNE Dental Education Loan Repayment Program (PDF). CDM Alumni from all graduating classes who are practicing in Maine are invited to apply for this program.

The New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) provides funds to health care professionals working in medically underserved areas of New Hampshire that are willing to contract with the state for at least three years. Medically underserved areas include areas of New Hampshire that are designated as HPSAs, MHPSAs, DHPSAs, MUA/Ps and E-MUP.
- This repayment program offers different potential award amounts based on full- or part-time employment status.

The purpose of the Vermont Educational Loan Repayment Program for Dentists is to increase access to dental care in underserved communities and address disparities in health care in Vermont. To receive this award, you must be a Vermont resident and agree to a two-year service commitment to practice dentistry in the state of Vermont.
- Award amounts can reach up to $20,000 per year directly towards principal balance of your loan.

Income-driven repayment plans allow you to repay federal student loans at a rate/amount that is affordable based on your income and family size.
You can meet the requirements for this payment plan if your federal student loan debt is higher than your discretionary income or represents a significant portion of your annual income.

NHSC loan repayment program allows DDS or DMD students to apply for up to $120,000 in their final year of school through the Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP).
Students must commit to serving at least three years at an approved NHSC site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need.
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Joining the Army as a dentist and officer allows you to apply for the Army’s Healthcare Professionals Loan Repayment Program. You can receive up to $50,000 to repay your dental school loans.
- You must have a current, unrestricted state dental license to apply.

This repayment program funds Indian Health Service clinicians to repay their eligible health profession education loans up to $40,000 in exchange for an initial two-year service commitment to practice in health facilities serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Opportunities are based on Indian health program facilities with the greatest staffing needs in specific health profession disciplines. There is a facility located in Presque Isle, Micmac Health Services.
As an Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program participant you’re eligible to extend your contract annually until your qualified student debt is paid.

The Disadvantaged Health Professions Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) provides a financial incentive for degree trained health professionals (including dentists) from disadvantaged backgrounds to serve as a faculty member in an accredited, eligible health professions school for a minimum of two years.
The awarded funds must be used to repay qualifying health professions educational loans consisting of principal and interest on loans incurred by the applicant while enrolled in a school in return for serving a minimum of at least two years as a full time or part time faculty member at an accredited health profession school.

With the National Institute of Health Loan Forgiveness program, eligible candidates in health professions programs with a doctoral degree, such as DMD, that pursue careers in biomedical, social, or clinical research for two years may receive up to $35,000 of student loan forgiveness per year.
The research must be funded by a domestic nonprofit organization or U.S. federal, state, or local government entity.
Your total debt needs to be equal to or greater than 20% of your base salary and you must be working with this research entity for at least 20 hours per week.