Background
Loans
Loans Types
Federal Loans
Private Lenders
Additional Resources
Federal Health Professions Programs
Additional health loan repayment programs may be available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, such as the:
Health Professions Student Loan program
The Health Professions Student Loan program provides long-term, low interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students to pursue a degree in dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, or veterinary medicine.
Under this program, funds are awarded to accredited schools of:
- dentistry
- optometry
- pharmacy
- podiatric medicine
- veterinary medicine
Apply for this loan at the student financial aid office of the school where you are or intend to be enrolled.
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Primary Care Loan Program
The Primary Care Loan program provides long-term, low interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students to pursue a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine. Loans to third and fourth year students may be increased to repay outstanding balances on other loans taken out while in attendance at that school. The interest rate is 5 percent and begins to accrue following a one year grace period after you cease to be a full-time student. When compared to other federal student loans and private loans, the PCL provides significant savings.
Medical students receiving a Primary Care Loan must agree to:
- enter and complete residency training in primary care within four years after graduation and
- practice in primary care for the life of the loan
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Loans for Disadvantaged Students Program and Nursing Student Loan Program
The Loans for Disadvantaged Students program provides long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue a degree in allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatric medicine, pharmacy or veterinary medicine
Participating schools are responsible for selecting loan recipients, making reasonable determinations of need and providing loans which do not exceed the cost of attendance (tuition, reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses
Under this program, funds are awarded to accredited schools of:
- allopathic medicine
- osteopathic medicine
- dentistry
- optometry
- pharmacy
- podiatric medicine
- veterinary medicine
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Faculty Loan Repayment
The Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) provides a financial incentive for degree-trained health professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue academic careers. Individuals selected agree to serve on the faculty of an accredited health professions college or university for a minimum of two years. In return, the Federal government agrees to pay, for each year of faculty service, up to $20,000 of the outstanding principal and interest on the participant's educational loans.
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Nursing Education Loan Repayment programs
NELRP is a competitive program that repays 60 percent of the qualifying loan balance of registered nurses selected for funding in exchange for 2 years of service at a critical shortage facility. Participants may be eligible to work a third year and receive an additional 25 percent of the qualifying loan balance.
Authorized by Section 846 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, the purpose of the NELRP is to assist in the recruitment and retention of professional nurses dedicated to providing health care to underserved populations.
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For more information about Federal Health Professions Programs, please visist Bureau of Health Professions.