Related Guide on this Topic
You may also want to see this guide on related topic: Health Care Workforce
Introduction
Many rural areas experience shortages of physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and other essential health care providers. Many government and private sources offer programs which assist students with the cost of education in health care fields through grants, loans, fellowships, scholarships, and student loan repayment. Some programs require a specified term of service in an underserved area or have other special conditions. General student financial aid is also available to qualified applicants.
This guide is designed to help you locate programs and organizations which make health education more accessible and affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
Community HealthCorps
Web site
Promotes health care for America's underserved. Works to increase access to health care, provide health education, support use of health care services, and recruit and develop volunteers to support community health centers.
Completing the 2008-09 FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Web site
Explains how to fill out the FAFSA student financial aid form.
Directory of Primary Care Offices (PCO)
Web site
Lists contact information for each state's Primary Care Office (PCO). PCOs represent the needs of the underserved populations and the providers who serve them. These offices can provide information on Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver programs, loan repayment programs, and recruitment and retention.
DisabilityInfo.gov: Financial Aid and Scholarship
Web site
Lists numerous scholarships and financial aid programs for students with disabilities.
Find Help: Financial Aid for Health Professions Students & Practitioners
Web site
Provides financial aid information for health professions scholarships, loans, and loan repayment.
GovLoans.gov
Web site
Single point of access for information about Federal loan programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Small Business Administration.
Graduate School Student Loan Center
Database
Provides access to Federal and Alternative Loan funding.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Database
Contains information on the IHS Loan Repayment Program for health professionals committed to practice at an IHS or other Indian health program.
Loan Repayment/Forgiveness Scholarship Programs
Web site
Provides detailed information about the many State and Federal Repayment programs, and Loan and Scholarship programs available to allopathic medicine and other health professions students.
National Health Service Corps: For Loan Repayors
Database
Provides information on the NHSC Loan Repayment program.
National Student Loan Data System
Database
Database of federal student loan borrowers. If you are a borrower of a U.S. Department of Education loan, you can find out information about your student loans.
NIH Loan Repayment Programs
Database
Provides competitive programs that offer repayment of up to $35,000 per year of educational loan debt for health professionals pursuing careers in clinical, pediatric, contraception and infertility, or health disparities research.
Stafford Loan Resource Center
Database
Provides information on federal Stafford, PLUS and alternative student loans. Discusses the loan process, completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to completing the application through receiving your check.
State Loan Repayment Program
Database
Program for eligible primary care health professionals who are providing full-time clinical services in a public or non-profit facility located in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area.
Student Aid on the Web
Web site
Presents information on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.
Student Assistance Programs
Database
Database containing links to student financial aid resources and programs available to particular fields of study.
Organizations
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
National organization
The national voice for America's baccalaureate- and higher-degree nursing education programs. provides many scholarships and financial aid resources for nursing students.
American Indian College Fund
Tribal organization
Provides scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities.
American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
National organization
Association of physicians-in-training in the United States.
Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS)
Federal government
Coordinates the recruitment and retention of caring health professionals in the healthcare system and supports communities' efforts to build more integrated and sustainable systems of care. Part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME)
Federal government
Provides an ongoing assessment of physician workforce trends, training issues and financing policies, and recommends appropriate federal and private sector efforts on these issues.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Federal government
Works to improve and expand access to quality health care for all. Part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Health Workforce Information Center (HWIC)
National organization
Provides free access to the most recent resources on the nation’s health workforce in one easy-to-use online location. Operated by the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and funded by the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Federal government
Federal focal point for medical research in the United States. Comprises 27 separate Institutes and Centers and is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service. Provides Loan Repayment Programs.
Nellie Mae Corporation
Commercial
Leading education loan grantor offering several student loan programs to help families pay for college.
U.S. Department of Education
Federal government
Works to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Federal government
Provides programs for U.S. Veterans, including Health, Education, Loans, and Benefits.
Terms & Acronyms
Accrued Interest Unpaid interest that accumulates on the principal balance of a loan.
Applicant Person who applies for a loan, grant, scholarship, or fellowship.
Bridge Loan Loan that provides short-term financing for tuition payments and books while the student is waiting to receive college financial aid. To obtain a bridge loan, contact the financial aid office at your college.
Critical Shortage Facilities (CSF) Health care facilities with a critical shortage of medical personnel.
Default Failure to repay a loan in accordance with the terms agreed upon. Default occurs after 270 days of non-payment on an account for Title IV loan programs.
Deferment Approved, temporary suspension of loan payments based on certain events and criteria.
Direct Loan Student loan program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Students borrow directly from the federal government instead of from a private lender.
Eligible Loan Education loan acceptable to an accredited school and made by a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, insurance company, accredited school, government, or other financial or credit institution in its capacity as lender.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Amount, set by law, that is a measure of a family's finances. Based on family earnings, assets, students in college and the size of the family. Used in determining the financial need for federal student aid.
Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) Private lenders who provide federally supported loans.
Federal Pell Grant Money that does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
Fellowship Financed research post, given to a post graduate student, providing study facilities and privileges in return for teaching services.
Financial Need Difference between a student's educational costs and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form used to determine whether or not a person qualifies for financial aid.
Grace Period Period between when a student graduates, leaves school either unofficially or officially, or drops below half-time and when loan payments must begin. This length of time depends on the type of federal student loan.
Grant Need-based financial aid that does not have to be repaid. May be offered by the Federal or state government, college or private foundation.
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Geographic regions that have shortages of professionals working in primary medical care, dental or mental health care. HPSAs may be urban or rural areas, population groups or medical or other public facilities. Geographically, HPSAs can be cities or towns, counties or groups of counties. HPSA designations are reviewed and revised annually by the Secretary of Health and Human Services based on criteria set forth in the Public Health Service Act.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Mental Health (HPSA - Mental Health) HPSA designation for a shortage of mental healthcare professionals that requires three criteria are met. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of mental healthcare services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet at least one of several criteria detailed in the Health Professional Shortage Area Mental Health Designation Criteria listed on the Bureau of Health Professions website. Also, the area under consideration must have mental health professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Primary Care (HPSA - Primary Care) HPSA designation for a shortage of primary care health professionals that meets three requirements. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of primary medical care services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet or exceed 3,500 people to every single provider or meet or exceed a ratio of 3,000 to 1 and have an unusually high level of need. Lastly, the area under consideration must have primary medical care professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Dental Care (HPSA - Dental Care) The federal designation for a shortage of dental care health professionals that meets the following three criteria. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of dental care services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet or exceed 5,000 people to every single provider or meet or exceed a ratio of 4,000 to 1 and have an unusually high level of need for dental services. Lastly, the area under consideration must have dental care professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Institutional Aid Money that individual schools themselves award to students.
Interest Dollar amount charged to borrow money.
Loan Money lent for a specified period of time at a specific interest rate. Collateral is often necessary to receive the loan.
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDA) Database of federal student loan borrowers.
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) Offers registered nurses substantial assistance to repay educational loans in exchange for service in critical shortage facilities.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Also called a Parent Loan. Enables qualifying parents, with good credit, to borrow money for their dependent student's education. Parents will begin repaying the loan 60 days after the school receives the entire amount or payments may be postponed. These are available through the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
Perkins Loan Low interest loan offered by some schools for undergraduates and graduate students. The school is the lender.
PLUS Pro Graduate or professional students may borrow a PLUS loan in their own name to cover educational expenses.
Scholarships Financial aid provided to a scholar due to academic performance, athletic skills, or other criteria. This money usually does not have to be paid back.
Stafford Loans Loans made available to students through the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Available to students who are enrolled half-time or more. May be subsidized or unsubsidized. Repayment begins six months after graduation or ceasing to be enrolled at least half-time.
Student Aid Report (SAR) Report you receive after you submit your FAFSA that summarizes the information. The schools you list on your application receive electronic copies of your SAR.
Subsidized Loan Awarded on the basis of financial need. No interest is charged before repayment of the loan. The Federal government pays interest until repayment begins, as well as during approved periods of deferment.
Unsubsidized Loan Not awarded on the basis of financial need. Interest is charged from the time the loan is given until it is paid in full.
Work-Study Program A federal program based on financial need for college students that provides funds earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of postsecondary education.
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