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How to Pay Off Dental School Loans: 5 Strategies for Dentists
Refinancing, income-driven repayment and forgiveness are among the options for dentists.
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The best way to pay off dental school loans will depend on your career path. A dentist starting a general practice has different financial challenges and priorities than an orthodontics resident, for instance.
Based on your post-graduation plans, use these guidelines as a starting point for mapping out your approach.
Private practice: Standard repayment or refinancing.
Residency program: Income-driven repayment, deferment or refinancing.
Public sector: Dental school debt forgiveness and income-driven repayment.
There are five main options to pay off dental school loans. Here's how to figure out which strategy is right for you.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.24-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 5/29/2025. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Variable APR
4.24-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 5/29/2025. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.19-16.99%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 6/23/2025. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Variable APR
4.37-16.49%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 6/23/2025. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.
1. Pursue dental school debt forgiveness
Best for: Dentists working in the public or nonprofit sector, or in an underserved area.
Forgiveness will likely be the least expensive way to pay off dental school loans. But it's also one that few dentists pursue.
According to a survey by the American Dental Education Association, 5.6% of dental school graduates in the class of 2019 planned to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness. An additional 3.1% were going to use a service commitment program that forgives debt, such as National Health Service Corps.
Several dental school debt forgiveness programs will pay off debt for dentists who work in the public sector or in an underserved area for a certain period of time. This route is a good option if your career aligns with one of these programs — like you plan to pursue academic dentistry at a nonprofit university, for example.
2. Refinance to pay off dental school loans fast
Best for: Private practice dentists who want to save on interest.
More than half of dental school graduates in the class of 2019 planned to aggressively pay off dental school loans. Dental school loan refinancing is likely the best option if you want to do this.
Refinancing can lower your interest rate, which may save you money and help you pay off dental school loans fast.
For instance, refinancing $304,824 — the average dental school debt among the class of 2020 — from 7% interest to 5% would save you roughly $306 per month and more than $36,736 over a decade, assuming you had 10 years of payments remaining before refinancing and kept the same repayment schedule.
Refinancing can make sense if you plan to work in private practice and are confident you won’t need an income-driven repayment plan or pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You lose access to those benefits when you refinance federal student loans.
Lenders understand dentists have a lot of student debt. But you'll still want to choose a loan repayment strategy that helps your cash flow. That may mean getting a lower monthly payment by refinancing or enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan.
Consider how much you make, how much you owe and your other financial obligations — like a mortgage or car payment — to find the right option.
3. Stick with the standard repayment plan
Best for: Dentists whose payments are manageable.
On the federal standard repayment plan, you’ll make equal monthly payments for 10 years. If those payments are affordable, sticking with the standard plan can make sense.
You’ll save the most in interest on the standard repayment plan among all federal options, and you'll keep federal student loan benefits by not refinancing. You can even make extra payments if you want to pay off dental school loans faster.
4. Enroll in income-driven repayment
Bestfor: Dental residents; dentists with excessive debt; dentists working in the public sector.
There are four income-driven repayment plans. These plans cap monthly payments at 10% to 20% of your income, making them affordable even during residency. For example, if you earned a $56,000 annual income as a dental resident, your monthly payments could be as low as $315.
Income-driven payments are subject to increase annually as your income increases. And your balance will probably increase because your payments likely won’t cover the interest as it accrues. You may want to revisit other strategies after your residency.
But if your debt vastly outpaces your income, income-driven repayment may be a viable long-term strategy. These plans forgive your remaining debt after 20 or 25 years. Those amounts are taxed, but you may pay less overall than under the standard plan or by refinancing.
Using an income-driven repayment is also a necessity to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Can you refinance during a dental residency program?
Two lenders — SoFi and Laurel Road — offer student loan refinancing for dental residents. However, SoFi will not refinance your dental school loans if you’re taking out additional student loans for residency.
Consider refinancing during residency if you’re certain you won’t use income-driven repayment or Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
If you refinance during residency, consider refinancing again when your training is complete. You’ll likely qualify for a lower interest rate post-residency.
5. Defer loan payments during residency
Best for: Dental residents in programs that charge tuition.
Whether you’re pursuing a dental specialty or doing a general practice residency, it’s possible to postpone federal loan payments during your training through in-school deferment or mandatory forbearance.
If you’re in a residency program that charges tuition, deferment will likely be necessary. But if you’re in a paid residency program, avoid deferment if possible, because it increases your loan balance. Most dental school loans — except any subsidized loans from your undergraduate studies — continue accruing interest during deferment.
For example, postponing payments for one year on $292,169 would add more than $52 in interest per day for a total of almost $19,000, assuming you had a 6.5% average interest rate, didn’t make any interest payments during that time and had no subsidized loans.
To limit the amount of extra interest that accrues, make at least partial payments during residency if possible, even during deferment.
