The College of Dentistry has funds available in the form of University scholarships and loans. Most of these have specific eligibility criteria. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of both need and academic performance. The Financial Aid Office will determine the eligibility of students who apply for financial aid through the College of Dentistry and will recommend students for these awards subject to availability.

FEDERAL DIRECT LOANS
All new students (new freshmen and new transfer students) will be considered for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The Direct Loan Program enables students to borrow from, and repay loans to, the U.S. Department of Education instead of to a bank or lending institution.  No separate loan application is needed for the Federal Direct Loan Program. Your eligibility will be determined by the Financial Aid Office based on your FAFSA information and on documents that the university may request from you. If you are determined to be eligible, you will receive a financial aid award notice with the maximum loan amounts allowable.

Applicants for federally funded programs must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Eligible non-citizens will be required to submit evidence of this status. Additionally, all financial aid recipients must be making satisfactory academic progress as determined by Howard University policy.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS (SDS)
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program provides funds to eligible health professions schools for the purpose of providing scholarships to full-time financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The schools are responsible for selecting recipients, making reasonable determinations of need and disadvantaged status to provide scholarships.

HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENT LOANS (HPSL)
The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) Program is designed to provide financial assistance in the form of long-term low interest loans to financially needy students pursuing a degree in dentistry.  Under this program, funds are made available to schools for the establishment of revolving student loan funds. The schools participating in this program are responsible for selecting loan recipients, making reasonable determinations of financial need and providing loans which do not exceed tuition plus $2,500.00 for an academic year.  

PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS
There are several private loan sources; such as the Access Group Loan Program, Citibank (CitiAssist), Fleet Bank (Fleet Education Loan), Key Education Resources (Alternative Deal), Signature Education Loan Program and others.

Private loans can be used as a substitute for a student's expected family contribution as determined by need analysis. In evaluating private loans, you should consider interest capitalization policies, annual and aggregate loan limits, minimum loan amounts, loan fees, the grace period, deferment options and repayment options.

Each lender conducts a credit check and usually the debt to income ratio must not exceed 40% including the loan being applied for. Lenders require a good credit report from the applicant and co-signed if applicable. The criterion for loan approval varies with each lender, however, most lenders agree that a credit report cannot include; bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, charge-offs, open judgements, or excessive past due accounts within the past two years.  Additionally, you cannot currently be in default on any educational loan.