Frequently Asked Questions

Dental student financial aid can come in the following forms:

• Federal Direct Loans (Unsubsidized Stafford and Graduate PLUS)
• Health and Human Services Loans
• Federal Work Study funds
• Institutional scholarships (awarded by the college)
• Private student loans

All graduate level students are considered Independent for financial aid purposes and not required to complete the parents’ section of the FAFSA and provide parent federal income tax information.

However, there is an exception: Students who are interested in applying for Health and Human Services (HHS) funds are required to complete the parents’ section of the FAFSA and submit their parents’ federal income tax information via the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. There is no exception to this requirement. These HHS programs are the following:

• Health Professions Loan
• Loan for Disadvantaged Students

Loan terms under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) may be different depending on when you first borrowed your loans. If you are a continuing borrower, you may still qualify for some previous loan terms. If you are a new borrower, your loans will follow the updated OBBBA rules. Interest rates may change each year, and most federal loans enter repayment after a six-month grace period once you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment. Because these changes are still evolving, your loan options may vary based on your individual situation. Please contact the Student Financial Aid Office if you have questions about your specific eligibility.

The amount of money a student can request each year depends on your estimated cost of attendance. MUSC’s Office of Student Financial Aid is required to follow federal guidelines in composing your educational cost of attendance. According to federal guidelines, the cost may only include direct educational costs (such as tuition, fees, and student health insurance) and reasonable living expenses.

The cost does not include other financial and familial responsibilities that you may have, including consumer debt such as credit card and car payments.

You may contact your Financial Aid Coordinator to obtain a copy of your estimated cost of attendance. You may request financial assistance up to your estimated cost of attendance. All types of financial aid count toward your total cost of attendance, including loans, scholarships, waivers, and more. We encourage students to construct a budget and review their expenses before completing the loan request form.

Financial aid stipends are issued by the Office of the Bursar after aid is disbursed to your student account, typically no earlier than 10 days before the start of classes. Refunds are generally processed within the first two weeks after the start of the term, in accordance with the Academic Calendar and federal regulations.

Students may receive funds via direct deposit or paper check based on their selected refund preference. For questions about timing or disbursement, contact the Office of the Bursar.

Yes, you may submit application updates after the deadline; however, you must already be marked complete by the deadline.

No, we encourage you to complete and submit your MUSC supplemental application as soon as you can.

• Average DAT: 20 AA/21 DAT
• Average cumulative GPA: 3.65
• Average science GPA: 3.59

Interviews are conducted virtually. The day begins with a welcome session, an overview of MUSC’s campus, and an explanation of the day’s events. Applicants then have two 30-minute interviews with faculty members. There is also a virtual tour of the Charleston area and an opportunity to ask questions of current students.

As the only dental school in South Carolina, we always look for qualified in-state students as well as highly qualified candidates from near and far. Typically, out of the cohort of 78 students, 21 to 23 students will be from out-of-state.

Please see the Academic Calendar. For first year students in the D.M.D. program (D1), the summer semester begins online at the end of May and in-person orientation is on the first business Monday in June.

Yes! Guided tours of MUSC for dental students are offered in June and July. There are also materials for a self-guided tour, as well as a virtual tour. Please visit our Recruitment Events page for more information.

The D.M.D. program is a four-year commitment. Applicants must start the program from the beginning.

Early clinics start in the first year. Dental students spend two half-days per week in the clinics.

You can find the college calendar, and a link to the university calendar, on the Academic Calendar page.

Please visit the Services for Students with Disabilities page.

If you are a current student, please go to the registrar's office page. If you have any questions, please contact Enrollment Management at 843-792-3281.

Contact Andrea Roth, Office of the Dean, at rothan@musc.edu.

Please consult the What to Know About Commencement page and reach out to MUSC’s Office of Enrollment Management with any questions.

The Student Resources page contains helpful resources and policies.