DDS & PPID Financial Aid

• Introduction
• Eligibility Criteria
• Application Procedure for University Aid & Federal Direct Loans
• Private Loans (Private Alternative Educational Loans)
• Processing of Applications by School of Dentistry
• Accepting Your Loan
• Accessing Funds & Paying Registration Fees
• Requesting Changes to Your Budget
• Repayments & Refunds

Introduction

Thank you for visiting the DDS & PPID financial aid website. This page is designed to provide individuals in the 4-year DDS and PPID programs with information about available financial resources and to assist them in navigating through the form-intensive process of applying for financial aid.

Although it may be possible to fund your entire education with financial aid, we recommend a conservative approach to borrowing. We also encourage you to save as early and as much as possible before you enter so that you may avoid a heavy debt burden. These savings will be particularly useful in your transition to dental school.

There are several available types of financial assistance: loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study. Approximately 90% of our financial aid is in the form of loans. These loans must be repaid with interest via a payment plan, which usually does not commence until six months following graduation or separation/withdrawal. The remaining 10% of financial assistance (for 4-year DDS students only) is in the form of grants, scholarships, and funds received for work-study, none of which need to be repaid.

Please note: Your eligibility for some of these options depend on your citizenship/residency status and program enrollment.

When a student applies for financial assistance, he/she has the following options:

• Apply for all University Aid.
  (The University reviews the information provided and determines whether the individual qualifies for such aid under the definition of “financial need.” Among the required forms are documents which request parental information. This option is available for 4-year DDS students only.)
• Apply for the federal Direct Loan only.
• Apply for Scholarships only or in conjunction with one of the other options.
• Apply for a Private Loan (aka. Private Alternative Educational Loan) only or in conjunction with any of the above options.

A federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan may also be considered after Direct Loan eligibility has been determined through the financial aid application process.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to receive federal financial aid, you must:

• Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or US national with a valid Social Security number
  (Students with a valid I-94 form showing refugee or asylum status are also eligible)
• Be registered with Selective Service, if required
• Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program
• Not be in default on any federal funds
• Be making satisfactory academic progress

Students in the US on student visas are NOT eligible for federal student loans.

The eligibility criteria for private loans varies between lenders. Please consult the private lender of your choice for more information.

Application Procedure for University Aid & Federal Direct Loans

To apply for all University Aid or a federal Direct Loan, you must:

• Meet all of the eligibility criteria listed above
• Submit all of the forms required for the particular type of financial assistance you seek:

*For more information about a specific form or to download that form, please click on the form in the table above. You may also visit our Financial Aid Forms webpage for details and downloads.

The School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office will not process any forms received from an incoming student who has not submitted their required acceptance deposit to the Office of Student Affairs. Any materials submitted prior to payment of the deposit shall be shredded.

Please send any forms that must be submitted to the School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office to:

                        Financial Aid Office
                        UCLA School of Dentistry
                        10833 Le Conte Ave, A0-111 CHS
                        Los Angeles, CA 90095-1762

Application Deadline
It is requested that incoming students complete and submit all required aid application materials within 20 days of receipt of notification to begin the application procedure.

Private Loans (Private Alternative Educational Loans)

The paperwork required for private loans varies between lenders. If you decide that you need to apply for a private loan, please click here for more information about these loans and a list of lenders. We encourage you to compare the various loans available through private loan sources. The federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan is now available to provide funding in most cases where a private loan was needed in the past.

Processing of Applications by School of Dentistry

Verification Process and Determination of Financial Need
The School of Dentistry is required to verify the accuracy of financial aid documents submitted by students receiving financial aid. It is essential to note that we have the right to request additional information at any time in order to process your application for financial aid. The School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office is also responsible for determining each student’s financial need. Click here if you are interested in learning more about the School's methodology for determining financial need.

Ensuring the File is Complete
Before an applicant can be awarded financial aid, the applicant must have submitted all required forms. The applicant should check the status of his/her financial aid application at MyFAO to be sure it is complete. If you have submitted documents to us, and do not see any of these listed as having been received, please remember that applications may take weeks to process due to the large applicant pool. If you have a question about any item still listed as outstanding, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financial_aid@dentistry.ucla.edu.

Special Circumstances
If you or your parents’ financial situation changes after you have filed the FAFSA or Need Access application, you must submit the following to the School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office:

• A letter explaining your special circumstances
• Supporting documentation (special circumstances cannot be considered without supporting documentation)

Changes in your financial situation include but are not limited to loss of employment, reduction in work hours, disability, illness, separation, divorce, and/or death of a family member. The School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office or UCLA Financial Aid Office will contact you to request additional information if needed. It is your responsibility to submit your petition in a timely manner in order to accommodate the School of Dentistry’s review process.

Accepting Your Loan

Debt Management Session/Entrance Exam
All students borrowing federal funds are required to participate in a Debt Management Session/Entrance Exam (DMS/EE). For convenience, the DMS/EE is available online to help students fulfill their UCLA and federal borrower requirements and to help them make informed financial decisions before accepting any loan offers.

Failure to complete a Debt Management Session/Entrance Exam may result in suspension and/or delay in receiving your financial aid.

eFANs
Once your financial aid file is complete and reviewed, you will receive an email notification instructing you to log into MyFAO to complete an eFAN (electronic Financial Aid Notification). The eFAN will specify the award type(s) and amount(s) for which you are eligible, and will lead you through the necessary steps to accept your aid. For information about the award types that may appear on your eFAN, please click here. 

You must complete the information requested in the eFAN in order for the processing of aid to be completed.

Master Promissory Notes
If you are borrowing money through a federal Direct Loan or a federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note. Please follow instructions on your eFAN to complete your Master Promissory Note(s). If you have previously completed a Master Promissory Note for a Direct or Direct Grad PLUS Loan from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, you may not be required to complete another for that type of loan.

Accessing Funds & Paying Registration Fees

Provided that you have completed the necessary paperwork on time, your loan funds should arrive at the School of Dentistry in time to pay your registration fees. Please remember that the loans are issued in three disbursements for entering students and four disbursements (one each quarter) for continuing students. You may not access your funds until you have completed an Entrance Interview as required by the federal government.

Registration fees are paid through the billing and receivables (BAR) system. Once registration fees and other University obligations have been paid, a check for the balance of funds will be generated. These checks, called Refund Checks, are either mailed or directly deposited through Bruin Direct to the student's bank account. If you would like more information about BAR, please visit the UCLA Student Financial Services website.

Requesting Changes to Your Budget

The School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office offers two forms if you need to request changes to your budget. To learn about and download the Budget Increase Request Form, please click here. To learn about and download the Housing Adjustment Form, please click here.

Repayments & Refunds

You should begin managing your debt in the first year of dental school and continue through graduation. It is a good idea to know your level of debt and how much money you will need to earn to repay your loans after graduation from dental school.

If you receive financial aid and subsequently do not enroll in the School of Dentistry or enroll and then withdraw, you will be required to return the financial aid you have received. Refund and repayment is based on published schedules and the date you officially withdraw.

If you do not plan to attend the School of Dentistry, you must notify the school of your change in plans. If your enrollment status changes, please notify our office immediately as this may affect your financial aid eligibility.