Loan Repayment

In This Section

Dental students graduate with an average of $297,800 in student debt, according to the American Dental Education Association. ASDA is here to give you the tools to have a game plan for financial success after graduation. This page is designed to provide resources and education on types of repayment plans, refinancing and strategies to pay off your student loans.

Federal Repayment Options

Repayment plans generally fall within two categories: standard plans and income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. Standard plans divide the amount you owe into equal monthly payments over a set amount of time. Income-driven plans calculate monthly payments based on adjusted gross income.

Repayment Assistance Program (RAP)

Starting on July 1, 2026, borrowers can begin enrolling in the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for their federal student loans. For new borrowers, RAP is the only income-driven repayment plan available. RAP monthly payments are capped at 10% of income above the poverty line. A key difference between RAP and previous IDR plans is RAP’s 30-year repayment term.

Standard Repayment Plan

Repayment Assistance Plan

Equal monthly payments

Payments calculated based on income

25-year repayment term

30-year repayment term

For loans dispersed before July 1, 2026

Federal Direct Loans or Grad PLUS Loans taken out prior to July 1, 2026 can be repaid using the following programs until 2028:

Standard, Graduate, or Extended Repayment Plans
Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan
Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Repayment Plan

By July 1, 2028, borrowers will need to enroll in one of the following plans:

Standard, Graduate or Extended Repayment Plans
Tiered Standard Repayment Plan
Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

For loans dispersed after July 1, 2026

Federal Direct Loans or Grad PLUS Loans taken out after to July 1, 2026 can be repaid using the following programs:

Tiered Standard Repayment Plan
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

Repayment Forgiveness Programs

In addition to scholarships and grants, dental students may also qualify for repayment assistance or forgiveness. These opportunities assist in repaying student loans or cancel existing balances after a certain period of service in a specific field or location. Review the requirements and conditions for each program below.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Borrowers employed by a qualifying government or non-profit organization can qualify for PSLF. This forgiveness program cancels the balance of federal student loans after the borrower makes 120 qualifying payments, equaling ten years.

More Options

Borrowers may consider consolidating or refinancing their loans. Consolidating and refinancing are both tools to help borrowers manage or even reduce student debt.

Consolidation allows borrowers to combine multiple types of loans into a single loan with one monthly payment. Generally, your interest rate will be the average of your previous loans. Consolidation can help lower monthly payments.
Refinancing refers to taking out a new loan, typically with a lower interest rate, to pay off other loans. It can be helpful for choosing terms that better align with your budget.

Refinancing Connections

Private lenders offer dental students different options for consolidating or refinancing student loans. ASDA can connect you with companies to determine the best option for your circumstance.

Always consult with your school’s financial aid office before making long-term borrowing decisions.
*ASDA Member Benefit Provider