Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

The Nurse Corp Scholarship Program is a selective program of the U.S. Government that helps alleviate the critical shortage of nurses currently experienced by certain types of health care facilities by helping needy students complete their nurse training. In exchange for the scholarship, upon graduation, the newly minted nurses work at these facilities for at least 2 years.

• The program is adapting to the increasing demand for nurse practitioners by reserving up to half of the award funds for students pursuing a master’s level nurse practitioner degree; and
• NSP participants must serve at an eligible health care facility located in a Primary Care or Mental Health Professional Shortage Area also known as a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF).

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

To be eligible to apply, you must be a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, or nurse faculty who has completed training (diploma, associate, baccalaureate or graduate), is licensed and employed full time (at least 32 hours per week) at a public or private, non-profit Critical Shortage Facility or employed as a full-time nurse faculty member at a public or private non-profit school of nursing.

Registered Nurses and Advance Practice Nurses: Public or private, non-profit Critical Shortage Facility that is designated as, located in or primarily serving a designated Primary Care or Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA):

• Critical Access Hospital   
• Disproportionate Share Hospital   
• Public Hospital  
• Federally Qualified Health Center  
• Indian Health Service Health Center  
• Native Hawaiian Health Center
• Rural Health Clinic  
• Skilled Nursing Facility   
• State or Local Public Health or Human Services Department  
• Ambulatory Surgical Center  
• Home Health Agency  
• Hospice Program  
• Nonprofit, Non-Disproportionate Share Hospital  
• Nursing Home

National Health Service Corps

NHSC builds healthy communities by supporting qualified health care providers dedicated to working in areas of the United States with limited access to care. Programs provided are: scholarships, loan repayment, job search & provider recruitment and NHSC site information.

For more information on the National Health Service Corps in Texas, contact the Texas Primary Care Office at (512) 776-7518.

National Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Explore this site for numerous loan forgiveness programs.  Student loan balances can be forgiven after 120 consecutive on-time payments if you have been working in public service for that period (10 years). Public service is defined as working for a nonprofit 501c3 organization or for a public entity (i.e. local, state or federal government service). If you are working in the medical field and your employer does not fit one of the two above categories, you may apply for eligibility to this program on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the "National Public Service Loan Forgiveness" link above for more information.

Income-Based and Income-Contingent Federal Loan Repayment Plans

Intended to give you the flexibility to meet your Direct Loans obligations without causing undue financial hardship.  From the US Department of Education. See link above for more information.