Do you get free tuition in dds/phd programs?

[tvndental]

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I would love to do a dds/phd program but was wondering if you get your education paid for? I don't want that debt on top my head while I'm spending my time getting my phd.

 

[dentalbuzz]

Of course not. You have to pay tuition right along with everyone else, unless you have over the top stellar stats and receive a full ride merit scholarship.

 

[dentaldawg32]

Yes, at Maryland, the DDS/PhD program takes approximately 7 years and you receive at least 5 years of financial support. Several other schools do the same thing. So, you could end up going to dental school for free, but, like many people have told me, do not get a PhD just for the free tuition. You need to really have a passion for research and a desire to go into academia.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Of course not. You have to pay tuition right along with everyone else, unless you have over the top stellar stats and receive a full ride merit scholarship.

Merit Scholarships and DDS/PhDs are unrelated. DDS/PhDs do pay for your tuition, at least all the ones that I'm familiar with, do pay for your tuition and fees, and I believe most give you a stipend for living expenses as well (usually in the range of $15K-$25K/year).

In addition to the Maryland program mentioned above, UConn has a 7-year DDS/PhD, Michigan has a 7-year program as well, and UIC has an 8-year program. UCSF has a program as well, as does University of Washington. It seems like a lot of public schools offer it and a lot of private schools do not.

It's not easy to get accepted though. To get into the UConn DDS/PhD, my friend had a 4.0 GPA and a 22 DAT and was published for her research. And definitely don't do it for the money, if you don't enjoy research you will hate you life and regret it.

 

[lphiewok]

As for any other professional schools, you do have to pay for your dental school education.
In fact, dental schools have one of the highest tuition out of all the professional schools so if tuition is a major factor, you would need to do lot of researching about it here.

If you have incredible GPA and DAT, you might get some scholarship (but most of times no where near full tuition) but you would need to have really good grades because people who are going to dental schools will have at least decent GPA / DAT so you need something very impressive.

There are other loan repayment options and military options available which I believe everyone should consider at least once before deciding on getting full loans.
I am going with Army and they will pay for full tuition plus stipend in exchange for 4 years of active duty plus 4 years of reserve (my school's estimated tuition plus living expenses for 4 total years is around $380,000 - from the school website).

I read it somewhere here and I believe avg. loan for those who graduated from dental school is around $250,000.

 

[xhamburgersamx]

As for any other professional schools, you do have to pay for your dental school education.
In fact, dental schools have one of the highest tuition out of all the professional schools so if tuition is a major factor, you would need to do lot of researching about it here.

If you have incredible GPA and DAT, you might get some scholarship (but most of times no where near full tuition) but you would need to have really good grades because people who are going to dental schools will have at least decent GPA / DAT so you need something very impressive.

There are other loan repayment options and military options available which I believe everyone should consider at least once before deciding on getting full loans.
I am going with Army and they will pay for full tuition plus stipend in exchange for 4 years of active duty plus 4 years of reserve (my school's estimated tuition plus living expenses for 4 total years is around $380,000 - from the school website).

I read it somewhere here and I believe avg. loan for those who graduated from dental school is around $250,000.

Definitely a good deal however military is not for everyone. Yes, most DDS/PHD programs are gov't or state funded and are mainly are public schools. You receive full tuition + stipend however i am not quite sure if the whole 7 years is covered.

 

[dentaldawg32]

As for any other professional schools, you do have to pay for your dental school education.
In fact, dental schools have one of the highest tuition out of all the professional schools so if tuition is a major factor, you would need to do lot of researching about it here.

If you have incredible GPA and DAT, you might get some scholarship (but most of times no where near full tuition) but you would need to have really good grades because people who are going to dental schools will have at least decent GPA / DAT so you need something very impressive.

There are other loan repayment options and military options available which I believe everyone should consider at least once before deciding on getting full loans.
I am going with Army and they will pay for full tuition plus stipend in exchange for 4 years of active duty plus 4 years of reserve (my school's estimated tuition plus living expenses for 4 total years is around $380,000 - from the school website).

I read it somewhere here and I believe avg. loan for those who graduated from dental school is around $250,000.

I think you misread the original post. The OP is asking about DDS/PhD programs, which do, indeed, pay for your schooling.

 

[coolfez]

Not all. usually u have to pay the first 2-3 years of dental school. then you get free tution for the rest of the time plus a stipend. So technically, if you don't spend ur stipend for other things besides living expenses, you will have enough left over to cover the first few years of school expenses.

 

[laundry]

Of course not. You have to pay tuition right along with everyone else, unless you have over the top stellar stats and receive a full ride merit scholarship.

Dentalbuzz, get your facts straight before answering with such confidence...

Depending on where you go to school, you get a different deal. At UCSF, the program is 4+3. Meaning, you get your DDS first then finish your PhD. While in D-school, you complete your lab rotation requirements, take PhD classes and attend journal clubs - basically everything needed to be ready for the qualifying exams to advance to candidacy.

Now about money. As a PhD student you are on some variation of a T32 NIH training grant, which covers about 70% of your dental school tuition and fees as well as giving you a monthly salary and health insurance. The salary is about 20K per year. The remainder of the tuition, at least in my case, is mostly covered by school. Since UCSF is a state school, I paid about 15K my first year as an out of state student, and 1500 for my second year and on.

So, to answer your question shortly, DDS/PhD programs cover almost all of your dental school expenses, considering your salary.

 

[dentalbuzz]

You are right, I answered too quickly. I apologize.

 

[UCLAbruinz]

is it possible to apply to pHD program at the same dental school during DDS?

 

[dentalaee]

is it possible to apply to pHD program at the same dental school during DDS?

I've wondered the same thing myself. But, since you have to apply to pHD program independently from the DDS program, I do not see why not.

 

[DiscoBalls]

Getting a Ph.D is brutal. I would not recommend it.