ADA Foundation Dental Student Scholarship
Offered by ADA Foundation
About This Scholarship
The ADA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Dental Association, is relaunching its dental student scholarship program with a 2026 pilot funded by a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Gary Oyster. The program's stated goal is to chip away at dental school debt and widen access to dental education for students facing financial barriers.
For the 2026 pilot, up to two $5,000 scholarships will go to students enrolled full time in a CODA-accredited predoctoral dental program in North Carolina. Applicants must be in their second or third year, in good academic standing with at least a 3.4 GPA, and able to demonstrate financial need. Applications are submitted directly by students through the foundation's online grant portal.
The foundation plans to expand the program nationally in 2027, so dental students outside North Carolina should keep this one on their radar for next cycle.
Eligibility
- Enrolled full time in the second or third year of a CODA-accredited predoctoral dental program in North Carolina
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale
- In good standing at the dental school
- Demonstrated financial need
How To Apply
- Open the application through the ADA Foundation's online grant portal (grantinterface.com link on the program page) once it opens August 3, 2026
- Submit academic records, financial need documentation, and required statements
- Apply before the September 7, 2026 close; questions go to [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a dental student outside North Carolina — can I apply?
Not in 2026. This year is a pilot limited to North Carolina dental schools, with a national launch planned for 2027.