Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health Professions – Funding & Opportunities

Health Care Scholars United
Scholarships for students currently pursuing a degree or certificate in a clinical health profession. Students seeking careers in rural health are a priority.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 24, 2026
Sponsor: Scholarship America

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

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
Scholarships for nursing students in exchange for a minimum 2-year, full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent) at an eligible healthcare facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Apr 9, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarships
Scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students seeking certificate, undergraduate, and graduate studies at tribal colleges and universities and nonprofit, accredited schools in the United States.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsor: American Indian College Fund

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment for undergraduate and graduate health professional educational loans in return for full-time clinical service in Indian Health Service programs.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Rural Access to Anesthesia Care Scholarship
Stipend scholarships for medical students to complete a rural rotation designed to teach future physicians about anesthesia in rural areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: American Society of Anesthesiologists

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) Site Activation
Apply to be an approved Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program site to receive assistance with recruitment and retention of qualified SUD clinicians and paraprofessionals.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nursing school faculty who agree to work at a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 12, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services