Where to Find Dental Hygienist Scholarships

by Robyn Tellefsen

If you want to become a dental hygienist but you're wondering how you'll pay for your education, the abundance of dental hygienist scholarships is sure to make you smile.

Scholarships at Dental Hygiene School
Dental hygienist scholarships are everywhere, but the best place to start your scholarship search is at the dental hygiene school you plan to attend. Many dental hygiene schools offer their own scholarship programs, with awards based on academic achievement, financial need, a personal statement, or a combination of these. Local dental societies and health care organizations also sponsor a variety of scholarships at individual dental hygiene schools. And your school can be an excellent resource for finding additional scholarships not offered directly through your program.

American Dental Hygienists' Association Scholarships
If you know you're going to become a dental hygienist, it pays -- literally -- to join the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). ADHA members who have completed at least one year of an accredited dental hygiene program may be eligible for a variety of scholarships, and they're all under one roof -- the ADHA Institute for Oral Health. This translates into a much simpler application process, so you can devote your energy to your education rather an endless scholarship search. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need of at least $1,500 through the FAFSA. Fifteen different ADHA scholarships were available for 2011-2012, with awards ranging from $1,000-$2,000. Applications are available October 1 of each year; the deadline for all ADHA scholarships is February 1.

Hispanic Dental Association Scholarships
The ADHA is not the only professional dental association, of course. Plenty of others exist for professionals who live in specific regions or who meet specific criteria. Members of the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), for example, may apply for one of three HDA Foundation scholarships. To be eligible for an HDA Foundation/Procter & Gamble Professional Oral Health Scholarship, worth $1,000, you must be entering the first year of an accredited dental hygiene program. Undergraduate students at dental hygiene schools in Texas may apply for a $500 or $1,000 HDA Foundation/Juan D. Villarreal Scholarship. And graduate-level dental hygiene students may apply for an HDA Foundation/Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship of up to $10,000. The application deadline for all HDA Foundation scholarships is July 1.

American Dental Education Association Scholarships
If you've already completed a certificate or associate degree in dental hygiene and you're committed to going even further in your education, there are even more dental hygienist scholarships for which you may be qualified. Members of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree completion program or graduate degree program may apply for a $2,000 ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers, or a $1,000 ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship. The deadline to apply for either scholarship is November 1.

There are so many dental hygienist scholarships to help you pay your way through school, whether you're just starting out or you're pursuing a graduate degree. Take a "bite" of every opportunity to become a dental hygienist!