Rural Health Funding & Opportunities: Loan Repayment Programs

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for eligible primary healthcare professionals who agree to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for medical, nursing, and behavioral/mental health clinicians with specific training and credentials to provide evidence-based substance use disorder treatment in rural communities designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NHSC Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Workforce Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for eligible clinicians who agree to serve in an approved SUD treatment facility.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for qualified mental health and substance use professionals who agree to practice in rural areas in Illinois.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsor: Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Illinois Veterans' Home Medical Provider Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for certain medical professionals to pursue or continue careers at veterans' homes in Illinois.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsor: Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Hawaii Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP)
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in Hawaii in return for at least 2 years of service in rural and other medically underserved areas of the state.

Geographic coverage: Hawaii
Application Deadline: Jul 5, 2026
Sponsor: Hawaii and Pacific Basin Area Health Education Centers

Alabama Board of Medical Scholarship Awards
Forgivable loans for students enrolled in an Alabama medical school who agree to practice primary care in a pre-approved community in Alabama upon graduation.

Geographic coverage: Alabama
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: State of Alabama

Alaska Health Care Professionals Workforce Enhancement Program (SHARP – 3)
Direct incentive payments and loan repayment assistance for a wide range of healthcare professionals in exchange for working in an approved area in Alaska.

Geographic coverage: Alaska
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health

Alaska Supporting Health Care Access through Loan Repayment (SHARP-I)
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Alaska.

Geographic coverage: Alaska
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health

Illinois Underserved Physician Workforce (UPW) Loan Repayment Program
Funding to assist communities in recruiting physicians to their nonprofit healthcare facilities in Heath Professional Shortage Areas in Illinois. Practice location sites register and agree to sponsor any provider who wishes to be considered for the program. Providers may receive loan repayment in return for service at an approved site.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health

Rural Health Funding by Type: Loan Repayment Programs

Rural Health
Funding by Type: Loan Repayment Programs