Rural Health
Funding by Topic: Loans, loan repayment, and loan forgiveness for health careers
Summaries of funding programs are provided by RHIhub for your convenience. Please contact the funder directly for the most complete and current information.
Hawaii Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP)
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in Hawaii in return for at least 2 years of service in rural and other medically underserved areas of the state.
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in Hawaii in return for at least 2 years of service in rural and other medically underserved areas of the state.
Geographic coverage: Hawaii
Application Deadline: Jul 5, 2026
Sponsor: Hawaii and Pacific Basin Area Health Education Centers
Application Deadline: Jul 5, 2026
Sponsor: Hawaii and Pacific Basin Area Health Education Centers
Oklahoma Nursing Student Assistance Program
Forgivable loans for Oklahoma students pursuing nursing degrees in return for agreeing to practice in Oklahoma upon graduation. Priority is placed on practicing in rural communities.
Forgivable loans for Oklahoma students pursuing nursing degrees in return for agreeing to practice in Oklahoma upon graduation. Priority is placed on practicing in rural communities.
Geographic coverage: Oklahoma
Application Deadline: Jul 15, 2026
Sponsor: State of Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Training Commission
Application Deadline: Jul 15, 2026
Sponsor: State of Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Training Commission
Colorado State Dental Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for dentists and dental hygienists in Colorado who agree to serve a certain number of underserved patients each month.
Loan repayment assistance for dentists and dental hygienists in Colorado who agree to serve a certain number of underserved patients each month.
Geographic coverage: Colorado
Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026
Sponsor: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026
Sponsor: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program (RIMSAP)
Loans and/or recommendations for University of Illinois Medical School students wishing to specialize in family practice or another primary healthcare field and who agree to practice in an approved rural community in Illinois.
Loans and/or recommendations for University of Illinois Medical School students wishing to specialize in family practice or another primary healthcare field and who agree to practice in an approved rural community in Illinois.
Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Nov 1, 2026
Sponsors: Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois State Medical Society
Application Deadline: Nov 1, 2026
Sponsors: Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois State Medical Society
Alabama Board of Medical Scholarship Awards
Forgivable loans for students enrolled in an Alabama medical school who agree to practice primary care in a pre-approved community in Alabama upon graduation.
Forgivable loans for students enrolled in an Alabama medical school who agree to practice primary care in a pre-approved community in Alabama upon graduation.
Geographic coverage: Alabama
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: State of Alabama
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: State of Alabama
Alaska Health Care Professionals Workforce Enhancement Program (HWEP)
Direct incentive payments and loan repayment assistance for a wide range of healthcare professionals in exchange for working in an approved area in Alaska.
Direct incentive payments and loan repayment assistance for a wide range of healthcare professionals in exchange for working in an approved area in Alaska.
Geographic coverage: Alaska
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health
Alaska State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Alaska.
Loan repayment assistance for certain healthcare professionals in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Alaska.
Geographic coverage: Alaska
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Alaska Department of Health
Illinois Underserved Physician Workforce (UPW) Loan Repayment Program
Funding to assist communities in recruiting physicians to their nonprofit healthcare facilities in Heath Professional Shortage Areas in Illinois. Practice location sites register and agree to sponsor any provider who wishes to be considered for the program. Providers may receive loan repayment in return for service at an approved site.
Funding to assist communities in recruiting physicians to their nonprofit healthcare facilities in Heath Professional Shortage Areas in Illinois. Practice location sites register and agree to sponsor any provider who wishes to be considered for the program. Providers may receive loan repayment in return for service at an approved site.
Geographic coverage: Illinois
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health
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.
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
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Kansas State Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for certain health professionals who agree to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Kansas.
Loan repayment assistance for certain health professionals who agree to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Kansas.
Geographic coverage: Kansas
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Kansas Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Kansas Office of Primary Care and Rural Health