Illinois Funding & Opportunities - Rural Health Information Hub

Illinois National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, dentists, and psychiatrists who agree to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Illinois.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health

Illinois J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an underserved area of Illinois, allowing them to remain in the United States.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Jan 31, 2026
Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health

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

Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program (RIMSAP)
Loans and/or recommendations for University of Illinois Medical School students wishing to specialize in family practice or another primary healthcare field and who agree to practice in an approved rural community in Illinois.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Nov 1, 2026
Sponsors: Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois State Medical Society

American Connection Corps
A 1-year fellowship program that trains and mobilizes leaders to work in rural and emerging communities to coordinate broadband development and digital inclusion.

Geographic coverage: Available in 29 states.
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: AmeriCorps, Lead for America

Delta Doctors J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an approved area of the Delta region, allowing them to remain in the United States.

Geographic coverage: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Delta Regional Authority

Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Technical Assistance
Technical assistance for selected hospitals, clinics, and their communities in the Delta Region to make in-depth health system enhancements.

Geographic coverage: Counties in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee that are served by the Delta Regional Authority.
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Delta Regional Authority, National Rural Health Resource Center

Illinois AHEC Scholars Program
A multidisciplinary certificate program for health professions students in Illinois that offers opportunities for hands-on training, experience in rural communities, and networking with other students and professionals.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Illinois Area Health Education Centers Network Program

Illinois Rural Health Experience (RHE) Program
A field experience for health professions students in Illinois to observe rural healthcare providers and their communities.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Illinois Area Health Education Centers Network Program, National Center for Rural Health Professions