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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

Walmart Community Pharmacy Scholarship for Pharmacy Students
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
Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program
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
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
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 9, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
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
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
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
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: Oct 15, 2026
Sponsor: National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
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
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
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
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) Site Activation
Apply to be an approved Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program site to receive assistance with recruitment and retention of qualified SUD clinicians and paraprofessionals.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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.
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