Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health Professions – Funding & Opportunities

NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment assistance for researchers that are not employed by the NIH. Loan repayment awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career, not to support specific research.

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.

NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarships
Scholarships for students residing in rural areas who are currently enrolled in a master's level counseling program and are committed to practicing in rural communities after graduation.

Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship Program
Scholarships for medical students approaching their final year of medical school. Scholarship awards are made under national and regional categories, including scholarships for students underrepresented in medicine (such as Native Americans/Native Hawaiians/Alaska Natives) and students committed to addressing health equity for underserved populations and economically disadvantaged areas.

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
Scholarships for Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing careers related to tribal public policy, native healthcare, and the environment.

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.

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.

Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP)
Scholarships for health professions students in disciplines for which recruitment or retention is difficult, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 2 years is required.

Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP)
Loan repayment assistance for recent graduates of an accredited medical or osteopathic school that 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.

National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for medical, nursing, physician assistant, and dental students who agree to provide services in eligible Health Professional Shortage Areas of greatest need.