Health Professionals Seeking Loan Repayment Options

Are you a health professional looking to reduce your student loan debt? These are some of the opportunities that might be available to you if you choose to work in a rural, tribal, or underserved community. Approved professional disciplines, eligibility, service requirements, and repayment amounts are specific to each program, as shown below.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for primary healthcare professionals who agree to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas. NHSC LRP fact sheet NHSC LRP website
Disciplines
Physicians, including psychiatrists Physician assistants Nurse practitioners Certified nurse midwives Dentists Dental hygienists Health service psychologists Licensed clinical social workers Marriage and family therapists Licensed professional counselors
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen or U.S. National Participate or be eligible to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs, as appropriate Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate or registration in the approved discipline Be employed by, or have accepted a position at, an NHSC approved site
Service Requirement
2 years with the option to apply for year-to-year continuation contracts in a full time or half time capacity
Repayment Amount
Up to $75,000 for a 2-year service obligation for primary care medical providers assigned to a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), which includes maternity care health professionals assigned to a Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA), serving at an approved service site. Up to $50,000 for a 2-year service obligation for mental and oral healthcare providers assigned to a mental or dental Health Professional Shortage Area, respectively. Half-time awards amount for primary care providers serving in a HPSA and Mental Health & oral healthcare providers are $37,500 and $25,000 respectively. Spanish Language Award Enhancement; Up to $5,000 for eligible applicants.

National Health Service Corps Rural Community Loan Repayment Program (NHSC Rural Community LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for medical, nursing, and behavioral/mental health clinicians with specific training and credentials to provide evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in rural communities designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas. NHSC Rural Community LRP fact sheet NHSC Rural Community LRP website
Disciplines
Physicians Nurse practitioners Certified nurse-midwives Physician assistants Behavioral health professionals Substance use disorder counselors Registered nurses Pharmacists Certified registered nurse anesthetists
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen or U.S. National Participate or be eligible to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs, as appropriate Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate or registration in the approved discipline
Service Requirement
3 years of service in a full-time or half-time capacity
Repayment Amount
Up to $100,000 for full-time service and $50,000 for half-time service Spanish Language Award Enhancement of up to $5,000 for eligible applicants

National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SUD Workforce LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for substance use disorder clinicians who agree to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas. NHSC SUD Workforce LRP fact sheet NHSC SUD Workforce LRP website
Disciplines
Physicians Nurse practitioners Certified nurse-midwives Physician assistants Behavioral health professionals Substance use disorder counselors Registered nurses Pharmacists
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen or U.S. National Participate or be eligible to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs, as appropriate Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate or registration in the approved discipline Work at a NHSC-approved SUD treatment facility located in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Service Requirement
3 years of service in a full-time or half-time capacity
Repayment Amount
Up to $75,000 for full-time service and $37,500 for half-time service Spanish Language award enhancement of up to $5,000 for eligible applicants

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for SUD professionals providing direct treatment or recovery support services in an approved facility located in communities designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area or in counties with an overdose death rate that is above the national average. HRSA STAR fact sheet HRSA STAR website
Disciplines
All disciplines accepted for NHSC LRP, plus: Registered Nurses (RN) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselors Pharmacists (PHARM) Psychology Doctoral Interns Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals Community Health Workers Peer Recovery Specialists Case Managers Health Navigators Clinical Support Staff Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) Licensed Occupational Therapists Medical Assistants
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen or U.S. National or permanent resident with a non-conditional Permanent Resident Card (green card). Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate or registration in the approved discipline. Work at STAR LRP-approved facilities located in a county/municipality where the average drug overdose death rate exceeds the most current national average. Work at approved STAR LRP-approved facilities located in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (MHPSA).
Service Requirement
6-year full-time service commitment
Repayment Amount
Up to $250,000 for eligible educational loans

Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for clinicians providing pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental and behavioral healthcare including substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment services. Pediatric Specialty LRP fact sheet HRSA Pediatric Specialty LRP website
Disciplines
Physicians Psychologists Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) Licensed or certified master's level social workers (LSW or LCMSW) Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Marriage and family therapists (MFT) Licensed professional counselors (LPC) Substance use disorder (SUD) counselors
Eligibility
A United States citizen, national, or permanent resident Fully licensed or credentialed in an eligible discipline One of the following: A full-time employee or a clinician who has accepted a position located in at a Pediatric Specialty LRP-approved facility located in or serving a (HPSA) or medically underserved area (MUA), or a medically underserved population (MUP) A health professional entering or receiving training in an accredited pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty residency, or fellowship.
Service Requirement
3-years full-time service commitment
Repayment Amount
Up to $100,000 for eligible educational loans

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurse Corps LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for nurses and nursing faculty who agree to work in underserved areas. Nurse Corps LRP fact sheet Nurse Corps LRP website
Disciplines
Registered nurses Advanced practice registered nurses Nursing faculty
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident Have a current license to practice and have completed the education program for which the loan applies Be employed full time (at least 32 hours per week) at a public or private nonprofit Critical Shortage Facility or be employed full time at an eligible public or private nonprofit school of nursing. A Critical Shortage Facility is a public or private nonprofit healthcare facility located in, designated as, or serving a primary medical care or mental health HPSA.
Service Requirement
2 years with an optional third year
Repayment Amount
60% of total outstanding qualifying loan balance for a 2 year service commitment The potential for an additional 25% of the original loan balance for a 3rd year of service

National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (NHSC S2S LRP)
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program provides loan repayment assistance for medical and dental students who agree to work in eligible shortage areas of greatest need. NHSC S2S LRP fact sheet NHSC S2S LRP website
Disciplines
Pursuing education in: Doctor of medicine Doctor of osteopathic medicine Doctor of dental surgery Doctor of medicine in dentistry Nurse practitioner Physician assistant Certified nurse midwife
Eligibility
U.S. Citizen or U.S. National Pursuing a degree at an approved, accredited school located in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory Eligible for federal employment
Service Requirement
3 years of full-time service in an approved NHSC site in an eligible HPSA of greatest need
Scholarship Amount
Up to $120,000 over 3 years of service. During the most recent application cycle, a supplemental award of up to $40,000 is available for maternity care health professionals, including physicians working in obstetrics/gynecology, family medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis, and certified nurse midwives.

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program (IHS LRP)
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, this program provides loan repayment assistance in return for full-time clinical work in Indian Health Service programs. IHS LRP website Loan repayment examples
Disciplines
Advanced practice nurses Behavioral health professionals Oral health professionals Physicians Nurses Optometrists Pharmacists Physical rehabilitation professionals Physician assistants See full list of eligible health professionals
Eligibility
U.S. citizen Have a health profession degree or are in your final year of academic/post-graduate clinical training Have a valid license to practice Committed to practice at an Indian health facility Can begin service on or before September 30 of the fiscal year the contract is signed
Service Requirement
2 initial years with the option to apply for year-to-year continuation until all qualified loans are paid
Repayment Amount
Up to $50,000 over 2 years

Other federal loan repayment/forgiveness programs:

NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program – Loan repayment assistance for health professionals who commit to research projects related to health disparities.
Faculty Loan Repayment Program – Loan repayment for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who agree to serve as faculty at eligible health professions schools for a minimum of 2 years.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness – Forgiveness of eligible loans for government and nonprofit employees who have made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.

Looking for state-specific opportunities?

Most states offer some variation of a loan repayment, forgiveness, or other assistance program. The HRSA website has state-level contact information for open State Loan Repayment Grants.

Follow these steps to search for state funding on RHIhub:

Visit the loan repayment funding by type page
Choose narrow by geography
Choose the appropriate state and click OK
If needed, you can narrow down even more by choosing narrow by topic
Then choose the appropriate topic, such as physicians or dental workforce, and click OK

Last Updated: 7/16/2024
Last Reviewed: 7/16/2024