Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health Professions – Funding & Opportunities
For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
Inactive
Funding designed to increase the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have a financial need. The program goal is to strengthen the health professions and nursing workforce by supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more likely to practice in primary care and in rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Funding designed to increase the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have a financial need. The program goal is to strengthen the health professions and nursing workforce by supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more likely to practice in primary care and in rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 28, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 28, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Inactive
Loan repayment for individuals from economically or geographically vulnerable backgrounds who agree to serve as faculty at eligible health professions schools for a minimum of 2 years.
Loan repayment for individuals from economically or geographically vulnerable backgrounds who agree to serve as faculty at eligible health professions schools for a minimum of 2 years.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 21, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 21, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
Inactive
Funding for accredited schools of nursing to establish and/or operate a student loan fund. Grantees will loan money to students, and up to 85% of each loan may be forgiven upon completion of up to 4 years of full-time employment as a faculty member in an accredited school of nursing.
Funding for accredited schools of nursing to establish and/or operate a student loan fund. Grantees will loan money to students, and up to 85% of each loan may be forgiven upon completion of up to 4 years of full-time employment as a faculty member in an accredited school of nursing.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 10, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 10, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Inactive
Funding to increase the number of dental and dental hygiene faculty in the workforce by assisting training programs to attract and retain full-time faculty through loan repayment programs, including those that provide care to and meet the oral health needs of rural and medically vulnerable populations.
Funding to increase the number of dental and dental hygiene faculty in the workforce by assisting training programs to attract and retain full-time faculty through loan repayment programs, including those that provide care to and meet the oral health needs of rural and medically vulnerable populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Walmart Community Pharmacy Scholarship for Pharmacy Students
Inactive
Scholarships for Doctor of Pharmacy degree students who are enrolled in a U.S. college or school of pharmacy. Awardees must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to serving rural, Medically Underserved Areas, and/or Medically Underserved Populations.
Scholarships for Doctor of Pharmacy degree students who are enrolled in a U.S. college or school of pharmacy. Awardees must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to serving rural, Medically Underserved Areas, and/or Medically Underserved Populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jul 6, 2026
Sponsors: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Walmart
Application Deadline: Jul 6, 2026
Sponsors: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Walmart
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
Inactive
Loan repayment for eligible clinicians who provide pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral healthcare including substance use disorder prevention and treatment services. In exchange for loan repayment, participants agree to 3 years of full-time service at an approved site.
Loan repayment for eligible clinicians who provide pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral healthcare including substance use disorder prevention and treatment services. In exchange for loan repayment, participants agree to 3 years of full-time service at an approved site.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program Site Activation
Inactive
Apply to be an approved Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program site to receive assistance with recruitment and retention of qualified pediatric clinicians.
Apply to be an approved Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program site to receive assistance with recruitment and retention of qualified pediatric clinicians.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP)
Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers to provide direct treatment and recovery support services in an approved SUD treatment facility.
Loan repayment assistance for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers to provide direct treatment and recovery support services in an approved SUD treatment facility.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 23, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jun 23, 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
Inactive
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.
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
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsor: American Indian College Fund
Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP)
Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for recent graduates of an accredited medical or osteopathic school who 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.
Loan repayment assistance for recent graduates of an accredited medical or osteopathic school who 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
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

