Scholarship Opportunities & Funding Resources
About This Resource
This guide provides a centralized list of external scholarship opportunities, loan repayment programs, and financial resources available to prospective and current dental students.
Please note: Additional scholarship opportunities are shared regularly with currently enrolled UCLA School of Dentistry students throughout the academic year.
Scholarship Types
University Scholarships
University Scholarships consist primarily of private donor funds administered through the School of Dentistry. Information regarding these awards is shared with students during the academic year.
Non-University Scholarships
Non-University Scholarships are offered by external organizations, agencies, companies, or private individuals and are not administered by the University. Eligibility requirements vary and may include academic achievement, leadership, special talents, or group affiliation.
Students are encouraged to explore external funding opportunities beyond those listed here.
National Dental Scholarships
- American Dental Association (ADA) Endowment & Assistance Fund
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Scholarships, Awards & Fellowships
- National Dental Association Foundation Scholarships
- American Association of Women Dentists Scholarships
- American Student Dental Association Scholarships & Grants
- Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Scholarships
- Pierre Fauchard Academy Scholarships
Service Scholarship & Loan Repayment Programs
- National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program
- Indian Health Service Scholarships
- NIH Loan Repayment Programs
- Health Professions Education Foundation
- State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP – California Health Corps expansion programs)
Military Scholarship Opportunities
- Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
- Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
- Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
- VA Education Benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill / Cal Vet Benefits)
Diversity & Affinity-Based Scholarships
- Hispanic Dental Association Foundation
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Society of American Indian Dentists Scholarships
- Korean American Scholarship Foundation
- Chinese American Medical Society
- Miller-Lawrence Scholarship
- American Indian Graduate Center Scholarships (AIGC)
- Colgate-Palmolive / NMF Dental Leadership Scholarship
UCLA / UC-Specific Scholarships
- UCLA Scholarship Resource Center Awards
- UCLA Faculty Women’s Club Scholarships
- UC-wide Alumni Scholarships (UCLA Alumni Association programs)
- UCLA School of Dentistry Internal Scholarships (merit + need-based DDS awards)
- UC Regents Scholarships (graduate/professional school awards where applicable)
Research & Academic Dentistry Fellowships
- AADR / AADOCR Student Research Fellowships (oral & craniofacial research awards)
- NIH Summer Dental / Research Fellowships (beyond loan repayment programs)
- UCLA DDS Research Stipend Programs (faculty lab-funded opportunities)
- University-based Clinical Research Fellowships (UC system dental research awards)
Financial Planning & Repayment Resources
- American Dental Association Financial Planning Resources
- American Dental Education Association Repayment Plans & Strategies
- Federal Student Aid Loan Repayment Resources
General Scholarship Search Tools
- Fastweb
- Scholarships.com
- College Board BigFuture Scholarships
- Bold.org Scholarship Platform
- Unigo Scholarships Database
Important Notes
- Scholarship eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts vary by program. Students should always refer to official organization websites for the most current and accurate information.
- This list is intended as a starting point and is not exhaustive. Additional opportunities are shared with enrolled students throughout the academic year, and students are encouraged to actively seek external funding sources beyond those listed here.
- Students should be cautious of scholarship scams requesting payment or sensitive personal information.
- Enrollment verification requests should be directed to the Associate Dean of Student Services.