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Rural Health Information Hub

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

For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities

National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for medical, nursing, physician assistant, and dental students who agree to provide services in eligible Health Professional Shortage Areas of greatest need.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Nov 7, 2024
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for researchers that are not employed by the NIH. Loan repayment awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career, not to support specific research.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Nov 21, 2024
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
American Indian Medical Scholarship (AIMS)
Scholarships for students of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian descent that are pursuing careers in nursing, healthcare, and health education. The scholarship is designed to assist students who plan to work on reservations or in hospitals that serve Native populations with the goal of improving healthcare within those communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 1, 2024
Sponsor: National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarships
Scholarships for students residing in rural areas who are currently enrolled in a master's level counseling program and are committed to practicing in rural communities after graduation.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2024
Sponsor: National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation
Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
Scholarships for Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing careers related to tribal public policy, native healthcare, and the environment.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 5, 2025
Sponsor: Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation
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
Application Deadline: Aug 15, 2025
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
Vet Center Scholarship Program
Scholarships for specific behavioral/mental health professional students. Recipients agree to a 6 year service obligation at a Vet Center Readjustment Counseling Service site. Applicants from rural, tribal, and other underserved communities are encouraged.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP)
Scholarships for health professions students in disciplines for which recruitment or retention is difficult, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 2 years is required.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP)
Loan repayment assistance for recent graduates of an accredited medical or osteopathic school that are currently enrolled or matched to a residency specialty identified as a shortage by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 24 months is required.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Last Updated: 10/21/2024