Approximately 95 percent of the School of Dental Medicine's students receive financial aid, from a variety of sources. The Office of Financial Aid assists students in completing the application process.
Sources for financial assistance for US citizens and permanent residents differ from those available for international students.
Applying for Aid
Students applying for Federal Direct Loans must submit a FAFSA in order to be considered for all forms of federal student aid. A student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to qualify for federal loans. This application must be completed each year.
It is important that you submit all application materials promptly. Late submissions may result in disbursement delays and assessment of late fee charges on your tuition account.
- Submit the FAFSA - CWRU FAFSA Code: 003137
Tip: Be sure to complete the FAFSA for the appropriate academic year depending on which year you are seeking aid for.
CWRU Financial Aid Application
- Log on to My Financial Aid, go to Menu > CWRU Financial Aid Application
Once your form is submitted, navigate to the Documents & Messages page on the portal to view any other required documents. Upload and additional required documents, if requested.
Tip: Review your My Financial Aid portal periodically, as additional information may be requested by the Office of University Financial Aid during the course of processing your aid application.
Securing Federal Student Aid
The Office of University Financial Aid will notify you when your initial Financial Aid Award is available.
- Log in to My Financial Aid to review your award. You will have the option to accept, decline, or modify your award.
You must accept your financial aid in order for it to be disbursed to your student account. Funds are disbursed to your account each semester. If you have aid in excess of your direct charges, you will receive a refund check after the start of the semester.
Tip: The amount shown on the portal is the maximum amount available for the academic year.
Additional Requirements
Students who have not previously received federal student aid or who are new to CWRU must complete two federal requirements before federal student aid can be disbursed:
- Federal Master Promissory Note (MPN) - Complete the required Master Promissory Note(s).
- Federal Entrance Counseling - Complete the Student Loan Entrance Counseling requirement.
Resources for US Citizens and Permanent Residents
Financial Assistance for US citizens and permanent residents consists of some scholarship assistance, but mostly student loans administered by the federal government. Student loans are obligations that must be repaid.
Scholarships
- School of Dental Medicine Alumni Scholarships The School of Dental Medicine, with the support of the Alumni Association, awards a number of four-year partial tuition scholarships to entering students of outstanding achievement and potential.
- Bonacker Warburton Scholarship : Available to students who are residents of Stark or Summit counties (Ohio) and who have financial need are eligible to receive a scholarship.
- Armed Services Scholarship Program The Army, Navy and Air Force permit selected students to be commissioned as officers in their programs. Terms and conditions of each branch scholarship program are available from the Health Professions recruiter for the specific branch of service.
- National Health Service Corps The National Health Service Corps offers scholarship benefits to recipients including tuition, fees, and a stipend. Participants are obligated for a full year of service for each year of benefits, with a minimum obligation of two years. Further information is available through the School of Dental Medicine.
- Other It is suggested that applicants check with their state and local dental societies. Additional resources include American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and American Dental Education Association
Federal Student Loans
Financial aid at CWRU School of Dental Medicine consists of loans that are administered by the federal government of the United States. The first eligibility requirement is that one must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (i.e. permanent resident of the US). The second eligibility requirement is that of demonstrated need. To establish this, we require that all students submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with our application for financial aid.
Please note that while students enrolled in a graduate/professional field of study are considered to be independent, this only applies to the Department of Education, which governs the Stafford programs, including the Direct Loan Program. Students who apply for other assistance, such as a Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) or school-based aid, must supply parental information on the FAFSA and provide a copy of their parent's current federal income tax forms.
Federal Direct Loan Program
For the Direct Unsubsidized Loans, graduate or professional students may borrow funds annually through the Federal Direct Loan Program. Loans for periods of enrollment after July 1, 2012 are unsubsidized (non-need-based). The interest rate of these loans vary each year. Please visit Federal Student Aid to learn more about the current loan options, loan interest rates, and loan fees.
Students must complete the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the CWRU financial aid application to be considered for Federal Direct Student Loans. Repayment of these loans begins six months after graduation or after a student withdraws or drops below half-time enrollment, as determined by the school.
Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) Program
Available only for Medicine and Dentistry students
The Health Profession Student Loan Program is offered to select students pursuing programs in medicine and dentistry. Eligibility for these loans is based on a financial need assessment of the student and the student's parent(s). Repayment of the HPSL loan is deferred until 12 months after cessation of full-time enrollment, with additional options for residency/fellowship periods. Learn more information about student loans.
Important Updates
Changes to the federal student loan program due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) legislation are expected in the near future which are planned to take effect on July 1, 2026.
Learn more about recent legislation updates.
Resources for International Students
Federal financial aid is available only to students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Listed below is a partial list of alternative funding for international students.
Scholarships
Scholarships offered by Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry are based upon academic merit. International students with excellent credentials (as determined by the scholarship committee's assessment of the student's academic credentials, including DAT scores and GPA) may be eligible for consideration. The scholarship committee makes the determinations of these awards. These funds are very limited, with only 7 to 10 awards made each year.
Other scholarship and loan resources may be available. Additional resources include American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and American Dental Education Association.
Loans
Canadian students may be eligible for loans through their province or a line of credit through their Canadian lending institution.
International students who have a credit worthy co-borrower may apply for a private educational loan.
A wide variety of private educational loans can be found using FASTChoice, an online private loan counseling and selection tool.
Listed lenders are selected by an annual RFI that looks at areas such as customer service, financial stability and loan terms. Many programs are designed for specific types of borrowers, and they comprise various loan terms and underwriting guidelines. Private loans are unsubsidized and can be denied due to adverse credit.
2026-27 Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are different based on a student's program and/or year in the program. The estimated costs for the 2026-2027 academic year can be found in the chart below.
| Class Graduation Year | 2030 | 2029 | 2028 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | |
| Tuition | $92,760 | $92,760 | $92,760 | $92,760 |
| Summer Clinic Fee | $4,266 | $4,266 | ||
| Dental Course Fee (Kaplan INDBE Prep) | $949 | |||
| TMD Course fee | $169 | |||
| Metalens Fee | $250 | $250 | ||
| RTA Fee | $140 | $140 | $140 | $140 |
| Dental Activity Fee (Estimate*) | $260 | $260 | $260 | $260 |
| Graduate Student Council Fee | $40 | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| ExamSoft Fee | $75 | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| Dental Lab Fee | $620 | $620 | $620 | $620 |
| Instrument Leasing Fee | $110 | $110 | $110 | $110 |
| Preclinical Cassette Leasing Fee | $400 | $400 | ||
| Clinical Leasing Fee | $350 | $350 | ||
| Digital Dentistry Fee | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Instrument Kits (Estimate*) | $10,788.63 | $6,260.90 | $203.11 | |
| Clinic Computer Leasing Fee | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 |
| Health Insurance1 | $4,220 | $4,220 | $4,220 | $4,220 |
| Total Billed by University: | $110,033.63 | $105,505.90 | $104,532.11 | $103,211 |
| Other Required Costs/Estimates: | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 |
| Scrubs | $530 | $530 | $530 | $530 |
| National Board Exams | $880 | |||
| Professional Licensing exam | $5,215 | |||
| Budget for Replacement Items | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||
| Loupes | $1,300 | |||
| Laptop Computer | $2,200 | |||
| Books and Supplies Allowance | $4,128 | $4,128 | $4,128 | $4,128 |
| Allowance for Loan Fees | $3,852 | $3,852 | $3,852 | $3,852 |
| Living Expenses Allowance | $25,640 | $25,640 | $32,834 | $32,834 |
| Subtotal - Other Costs: | $37,120 | $34,150 | $43,844 | $49,939 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $147,153.63 | $139,655.90 | $148,376.11 | $153,150 |
*Fees are subject to change.
1 This fee may be eligible for waiver. Please visit the Student Medical Plan website for waiver criteria and instructions to waive this fee. Waiver will apply to both fall and spring semesters if done by the fall semester tuition due date. If the waiver is completed after the fall semester tuition due date, students must complete the waiver again for the spring semester.
Disclaimer: The policies, procedures, and fees are subject to change without prior notice, if necessary. This is provided for informational purposes and may not represent all fees and charges a student may incur.