Scholarships
This webpage provides a variety of scholarship opportunities from UB SDM and national associations.
All students accepted into the University at Buffalo DDS program are considered for scholarships and there is no separate application. Among the selection criteria are: academic performance and achievement, a broad range of intellectual interests, demonstrated leadership, commitment to interests other than academic work and unique life experiences that may contribute to a dental career, and disadvantaged status.
The School of Dental Medicine offers approximately 20 different scholarships to students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of the DDS program. These scholarships are generally awarded on the basis of need, academic achievement, and/or service. Please contact us for more information.
Who: Full–time student who is pursuing a career in dentistry, demonstrates financial need and has at least a 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to residents of Nevada.
Amount: $2,000
Who: Full-time matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited 4-year or 2-year institution. Applicants must be nominated by their institutions.
Amount: Scholarships of up to $7,500 a year are provided to help cover costs associated with tuition, fees, books, room and board. A sophomore will receive up to $7,500 in each of his/her junior and senior years. A junior will receive up to $7,500 in his/her senior year.
Deadline: January
Who: Applicants are required to be enrolled full-time seeking a career in dentistry and at least a junior in college (or graduated).
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: September
Who: HOSA members in high school or college to aspire to a career in dentistry
Amount: $1,000 - $2,000
Deadline: March
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
The American Dental Education Association administers a variety of scholarships for dental students. The ADEA/GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Preventive Dentistry Scholarship is available to predoctoral dental students who have demonstrated a high level of academic excellence in the field of preventative dentistry. The annual award is $2,500. The ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers is open to students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene. Two $3,000 scholarships are awarded every year. Other scholarships and eligibility information are available at the ADEA website.
Who: Must be an ADEA individual member enrolled full-time in a U.S. dental school, with a demonstrated interested in preventive dentistry. Must be nominated by dean or dean’s designate (limit of three nominations per school)
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: November
Two $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to support dental hygiene students pursuing academic careers.
Who: Must be an ADEA individual member enrolled in a predoctoral dental program at an ADEA member institution, with a demonstrated interested in a career in dental education
Amount: $5,500
Deadline: November
Who: Currently enrolled dental students with one or more years of school remaining.
Amount: Ten $10,000 scholarships and twenty-five $5,000 scholarships. Both are non-renewable.
Deadline: June
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
Dentists are a vital component of the healthcare industry, and the role of dental health in the prevention of disease and the maintaining of general good health can not be overestimated. Many areas of the country, particularly rural and urban communities, are experiencing a shortage of qualified dentists and dental related professionals.
To address these shortages, Federal and state governments offer scholarship incentives for students interested in pursuing dentistry as a professional career. Some of the most notable Federal scholarship programs for dental students include:
S2S LRP provides up to $120,000 in tax-free student loan repayment to medical (MD and DO) or dental (DDS or DMD) students in their final year of school. Award recipients commit to provide primary health care at an approved NHSC site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need after graduating. Service commitment is full-time for at least 3 years or part-time for 6 years. Award recipients must be a U.S. citizen or national and enrolled in an eligible medical or dental degree program at a U.S. accredited school. Installments are paid annually in a lump sum. When applied to qualified health professional student loans, these can significantly lower overall student debt by reducing accrued interest. S2S recipients may continue service through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program and could potentially pay off all educational debt.
This program is only open to students who are documented members of a Federally recognized tribal nation. Three scholarships are available which can be applied to students studying dentistry. The Preparatory Scholarship is available to Native American students enrolled in prerequisite undergraduate courses in preparation for entry into a health professional school. The Pre-Graduate Scholarship is available to qualifying American Indian and Native Alaskan students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree granting program in pre-dentistry. The Health Professions Scholarship is open to Native American and Native Alaskan students enrolled in an accredited medical dentistry program. It is an award-for-service program, and recipients must agree to a predetermined term of service providing dental care in a Native American healthcare facility.
This program is open to students pursuing degrees in any primary healthcare field, including general and pediatric dentistry. This is an award-for-service program, and eligible students will receive a full tuition scholarship, including stipends for books and housing, in exchange for a service commitment working in an under-served community or under-staffed medical facility. Scholarship recipients who fail to discharge their service commitment will be responsible for the full repayment of their award, plus interest.
Students pursuing degrees and careers in dentistry should also look to their state governments for possible scholarships and loan forgiveness programs dedicated to the needs of dental students at all stages of their college careers. State sponsored scholarships are typically award-for-service programs, and recipients will be required to complete a predetermined term of service providing dental care in a designated critical need facility or under-served community.
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
Who: Colgate funds female dental students
Amount: $1,000
Who: Available to first-, second- or third-year dental students; credit given for work or research in support of health care in the Chinese community
Amount: $5,000 (non-renewable)
Deadline: March
Who: third- or fourth-year dental students with good academic standing and financial need. Dental school deans may nominate one student per school (individually submitted applications not accepted).
Amount: one $25,000 award; three $10,000 awards; up to 10 $5,000 awards
Deadline: May
Who: Open to student members of the Hispanic Dental Association and the Hispanic Student Dental Association who have been accepted or are currently enrolled into an accredited dental program.
Amount: multiple scholarships available of varying amounts
Deadline: July
Who: Any student currently enrolled in an accredited dental school, with exceptional academic performance and documented leadership activities. Applicants must demonstrate an affinity for the health of Hispanic communities and an interest in participating in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities
Amount: 15-20 awards of varying amounts
Deadline: October
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
(Note: UB School of Dental Medicine is not responsible for the availability or content of the sites it links to, nor does UB SMD endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other sites. The information contained above should be considered a summary; complete details and eligibility requirements can be found by clicking on the program name.)
In addition to the scholarships listed, we also encourage students to seek out scholarship opportunities that may not be known to us.
AAUW Career Development Grants
American Association of University Women
American Association of Women Dentists
American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
American Indian Graduate Center
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
Colgate-Palmolive/NMF Dental Leadership Scholarship
Daughters of the American Revolution American Indian Scholarships
Hispanic Dental Association Foundation
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (College Scholarship Program)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Indian Health Service Scholarships
International Association for Dental Research
Korean American Scholarship Foundation
League of United Latin American Citizens
National Association of Medical Minority Educators
National Dental Association Foundation
NIH Division of Loan Repayment
Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) Scholarship
Click on the link below to check out all the photos from the 2022 Scholarship recipients!