Rising dental tuition coupled with limited student loan opportunities could threaten the dental workforce pipeline, several dentists shared with Becker’s.
Dental school tuition has increased by 26.5% for residents and 18% for nonresidents since 2017, according to data from the American Dental Association. New data from the Education Data Initiative also shows that the average amount of dental school debt has increased by 587% since 1996, reaching $280,300 in 2025.
Dental students are facing new pressures as the federal government has introduced new borrowing limits and plans to phase out the GRAD Plus loan program. The new rules, which are part of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, went into effect July 1 and limit borrowing to $50,000 per year for professional degree programs.
Fewer federal loan options could lead to additional financial barriers for students who seek alternative borrowing options from private lenders with higher interest rates and credit score requirements, the ADA said. The ADA noted that an estimated 25% of students in professional health programs are disqualified by these conditions.
Becker’s recently spoke with six dentists about the rising cost of dental education, and whether these conditions are making dental school unattainable for prospective students.
Question: Is dental school becoming unattainable for prospective students?
Thomas Allen, DDS. New Jersey Endodontics (River Edge): There are plenty of qualified candidates for dental school admission, but it’s a cost issue. They are considering the return on investment, and it’s becoming more and more upside down. Student loan debt, combined with new lending limits requiring more creative financing requirements, will further affect potential candidates’ decisions going forward. It’s a rewarding profession in many ways, but the pathway to join will continue to cause many qualified students to consider less costly careers to pursue.
Murat Ayik, DDS. Woodhill Endodontics (Dallas): Dental school has become significantly more expensive, and that financial burden is a legitimate concern for prospective students. Rising tuition and educational debt can influence career decisions, specialty choices and even where graduates choose to practice. That said, I don’t believe dentistry is becoming unattainable. The profession continues to offer tremendous opportunities for meaningful patient care, innovation and long-term career fulfillment. The challenge isn’t convincing talented students to pursue dentistry; it’s ensuring they have access to financial pathways, mentorship and educational models that make that journey sustainable.
Robert Baskies, DMD (Phillipsburg, N.J.): I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1978. This was almost 50 years ago. During the second semester of my senior year, I was approached by three dental supply companies about opening my own practice. They promised to build out my two-chair practice with a Panorex for $35,000, and they arranged 100% of the financing. I had borrowed $14,000 to pay for my tuition, so in September of 1978, I was in debt for $49,000. Times were “a changing.”
In 2026 the average student debt is $297,000, and to build a practice the average cost is $750,000. I doubt any dental supply companies are meeting with graduating seniors, who in theory would place themselves in debt for about $1 million. They are not “bankable.”
Dental school might be attainable, but it is only a dream of owning your own practice.
Costas Harris, DMD. Orange (N.J.) Dental Center: I believe we are reaching a point where it is for many prospective applicants because of the sheer cost and lack of available loan funding. I do not think it is impossible, but it is definitely challenging. However, candidates should not hesitate if they truly believe in where they want to be in the future. With the rising cost of dental schools, I believe future hiring will need to incorporate better loan repayment benefits for dentists entering the workforce.
David Nguyen, DMD. CEO of URBN Dental (Houston): The problem is not that dental school is too hard. The problem is that it is becoming too expensive. When the price of entry becomes high enough, people stop asking, “Can I become a great dentist?” They start asking, “Can I survive the debt?” That is when a profession begins to change.
The best professions compete for talent. They do not compete for who can tolerate the most financial risk. If the cost of becoming a dentist keeps rising faster than the value created, we will not lose applicants. We will lose innovators, builders and future leaders before they ever step into a classroom. That is a much bigger problem than the price of tuition.
Robert Trager, DDS. Dentist at JFK Airport (New York City): According to Becker’s latest statistics, dental school tuition can range from a low of $60,000 annually to $100,000 annually. Students upon graduation now have at least $250,000 or more in student loans debt. Prospective students can go to law school and after three years be almost debt free and enter a profession with a high salary and very little debt. They can also go to business school and be an AI analyst, computer software specialist, get a job working with a state or government agency, become an air traffic controller or get a job on wall street. All these business scenarios will leave you with no debt and an income relative to a dental income with no future stress on paying back loans.
The best scenario may be for a prospective student to go to school and become a hygienist and earn between $80,000 to over $100,000 and use that money for tuition. Another solution would be for some of these DSOs to offer scholarships to prospective students after vetting them as a serious candidate. Also, some DSOs [could] provide these students with loans on the same vetting. A legal contract would be drawn up so that these prospective students would have to work for the DSOs that have provided them with these funds upon graduation to help pay off their debt/loan and scholarship funds. The DSOs would have no problem with future employment based on their financial transactions. This may be a win-win solution for all parties involved. Unless you come from a wealthy family, this contract idea may be ideal for some prospective students.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
