Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Website: www.hrsa.gov
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To increase the diversity of the health professions workforce and the
number of providers working in underserved communities, HRSA provides
funds to accredited U.S. health professions schools providing scholar-
ships and low-interest loans to students with financial need.
If you are a student or health professional looking for scholarships,
loans or loan repayment, please visit the website. Following is a
small list of just some of the school-based scholarships and loans:
HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENT LOAN (HPSL): Funds participating schools to
offer long-term, low interest loans to needy students enrolled full-
time or half-time in dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric or
veterinary medicine.
NURSING STUDENT LOAN (NSL): Funds participating schools to offer long-
term, low-interest loans to full-time, disadvantaged students pursuing
a diploma, associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing.
LOANS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS (LDS): Funds selected schools to
provide long-term, low-interest loans to disadvantaged students who
pursue a degree in allopathic, osteopathic, podiatry, dentistry,
optometry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine.
PRIMARY CARE LOAN (PCL): Funds participating schools to provide
long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time, needy students to
pursue a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine. Students who
receive a PCL must agree to enter and complete residency training in
primary care within four years after graduation; and practice primary
care for ten years or until the loan is paid in full, whichever comes
first.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS (SDS): Provides grants to
schools for funding scholarships to students from disadvantaged
backgrounds who are enrolled in health professions programs.
NURSE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: Students accepted or enrolled in a
diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree nursing program
can receive funding for tuition, fees and other educational costs.
In exchange you must work at an eligible facility with a critical
shortage of nurses-a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF)- upon graduation.
To apply for any of these programs, contact the student financial aid
office at the school where you intend to apply for admission or where
you are enrolled.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A LOAN OR SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIBED ABOVE,
ONLY IF YOUR SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN THAT PROGRAM.
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