Dental Assisting Scholarships & Financial Aid

• The American Dental Association (ADA): The ADA awards dental assistant scholarships to students annually. The ADA offers several different scholarship programs, including dental assistant scholarship options specifically for minority students. Eligibility requirements vary.
   
• The National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF)
  Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship: The National Dental Association Foundation's Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship was established in 1990 in order to offer financial aid to underrepresented minority students across the country.
   
• The American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA): Members of the ADAA, a national organization providing support and resources for dental assistants, may qualify for a variety of scholarship opportunities.
   
• The Hispanic Dental Association (HDA): The HDA is an excellent resource for members of the Hispanic community who wish to work in the dental profession.

Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of college financial assistance. These programs provide billions of dollars to students each year through grants, work study, and loans. Your first step will be to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility.  Below are some of the federal financial aid programs available:

• Pell grants
• Stafford loans, available either through the Direct Loan (DL) program or the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program
• PLUS loans for parents (also available through the DL or FFEL programs)
• Consolidation loans (DL or FFEL)
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Perkins loans
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

If you would like to receive financial aid, get advice as early as possible. During the application process, it's a good idea to consult with the school's office of financial aid. They will be able to guide you through the process.