Federal student loan limits have changed. With the OBBB Act’s $50,000 cap, many dental students may need to rely on private loans to fund dental school. What many students don’t realize: in private lending, your credit, timing, and strategy can change your rate significantly, translating into savings worth tens of thousands of dollars.
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
- How private student loan eligibility is determined and what factors influence interest rates and loan pricing for dental students.
- The common mistakes dental students make before applying for private loans and how to avoid them.
- How to build a realistic dental school budget that accounts for tuition, living expenses, and instruments to determine how much to borrow and from where.
- Demonstrate how to access negotiated private loan options as part of a broader dental school financing strategy.
Melissa Lowry
Head of Dental Students
Melissa Lowry is Head of Dental Partnerships & Growth at Juno, bringing over a decade of experience at the intersection of dentistry and communications. She previously served as Communications Director at the Alberta Dental Association and as Chief Marketing Officer at an AI health tech company. Having personally navigated — and paid off — $500K in dental school loans in 2024, Melissa brings a firsthand understanding of the financial challenges dental students face and a genuine passion for helping them find better solutions.