NHSC & Other Student Loan Repayment Benefits at MCDC

At My Community Dental Centers, we’re committed to not only providing exceptional and affordable dental care across Michigan but also supporting the professional growth and financial well-being of our team. According to the American Dental Association, the average dental student graduates with $250,000-350,000 in student loan debt, which is why we’re proud to offer financial relief through NHSC’s loan repayment program at certified sites. Whether you’re a current member of the MCDC team or are considering joining our staff, we hope you pursue the opportunities available to you to improve your life and career in dentistry.

What is the NHSC?

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) entices primary care medical, dental, and behavioral health providers to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) to provide health services to underserved communities. As a non-profit dental organization that accepts both adult and child Medicaid, among other criteria, select MCDC locations have been approved as NHSC sites. 

Who’s Eligible for NHSC Loan Repayment? 

Dental students may be familiar with the NHSC scholarship program, but their resources don’t stop after graduation! The NHSC program is a tax-free fund available for dentists and hygienists. 

Full-time working dental employees can receive up to $50,000 over the span of two years to put towards their dental student loans. After two years, recipients can reapply to the repayment program for an additional $20,000 per year in student loan relief until all their loans have been paid off. 

Part-time dental employees are also eligible for the NHSC program. If accepted into the program, part-time employees can receive up to $25,000 in loan reimbursement over two years. 

MCDC NHSC Approved Sites:

Additional Student Loan Repayment Options

The NHSC isn’t the only loan repayment program available to our staff. Employees can also apply to the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. To help you make the best decision, we broke down the differences between each program.

Michigan State Loan Repayment Program

The Michigan State Loan Repayment Program, similar to the NHSC, is only available at eligible centers. This list is the same as above with the addition of our Sandusky center. While this program offers a higher tax-free reimbursement rate of $30,000/year up to 10 years, with a maximum limit of $300,000, this fund is only available to full-time dentists and cannot be combined with the NHSC program. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

Thanks to MCDC’s non-profit status, every single one of our employees is eligible for PSLF, including dentists and hygienists. After 10 years of service and making 120 qualified payments, any amount of student loan debt left will be forgiven. Applicants must comply with the verification process on an annual basis. 

Benefits for Dental Professionals  

Unlike other dental clinics, when MCDC employees enroll in student loan repayment programs, the benefits do not impact their salary! That’s right, your salary will not decrease if you enroll in any of the repayment plans. Another benefit to these programs is that you can start paying off your loans earlier. Dental students who have a signed contract with MCDC can apply before graduating to start receiving student loan reimbursement the following October.

How to Apply for NHSC Student Loan Repayment

Every year, employees and dental students can apply for student loan repayment during the application window. The Michigan State Loan Repayment Program opens in March, and the NHSC enrollment period begins in April. PSLF enrollment is always open to qualified employees, but they need to resubmit paperwork every year to prove continued employment to a 501c3. 

MCDC cannot fill out student loan repayment applications on behalf of employees, but we can help you navigate through the process and provide you with helpful resources. 

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be U.S. citizens with a license and have to continue making payments towards their student loans in order to receive reimbursement. If you default on your student loans or fail to meet the requirements, you could lose reimbursement benefits.

The NHSC Loan Repayment Program, Michigan State Repayment Program, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Programs are a testament to MCDC’s commitment to our team’s success. Not only do these benefits accelerate your dental career, but they also relieve some of the burden of dental student loan debt. We hope you take advantage of these opportunities whether you’re a current member of our team or are considering joining us. If you have any questions about the loan reimbursement or application process, please reach out to our team for assistance!