Are you aspiring to make a difference in healthcare and need financial assistance to achieve your dreams? We understand the challenges of funding your education, and we offer several loan programs designed to support schools in providing accessible education for aspiring health professionals. These programs ensure that dedicated students can pursue degrees in critical healthcare fields with long-term, low-interest loans.
Our loan initiatives are structured to benefit not only students but also communities in need. By undertaking these loan programs, students commit to delivering essential healthcare services to underserved populations, addressing critical gaps in primary care access.
We provide four distinct loan programs tailored to different health professions and educational paths:
Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL)
The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) program is available to students attending school full-time or part-time and pursuing degrees in specific health disciplines. If you are aiming for a career as a:
- Doctor of Dentistry
- Bachelor or Doctor of Science in Pharmacy
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- Doctor of Optometry
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Then the HPSL program might be the right path for you. This program helps make these critical healthcare professions more accessible through financial support.
Is Your School Eligible for HPSL?
For your educational institution to participate in the HPSL program, it must offer degree programs in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Podiatry
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary Medicine
If your school offers these programs, encourage them to explore the HPSL program to help students like you.
How to Apply for HPSL?
Applying for the HPSL program involves a straightforward process for eligible institutions:
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Understand the Application Process: Begin by reviewing the SF424 instructions (PDF – 188 KB) and completing the SF424 form (PDF – 146 KB). For PDF viewing issues, open with Adobe Reader and select “Enable All Features.”
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Complete the Program Application: Fill out the Application to Participate in the Health Professions Students Loan (PDF – 117 KB) (HPSL) Program application form.
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Submit Your Application: Send both the SF424 form and the program application to the designated program officer to finalize your application.
Who to Contact for HPSL Program Queries?
For any questions or further assistance regarding the HPSL program, please reach out to the HPSL Program Officer, Hai Le, directly via Email HPSL Program Officer Hai Le.
Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS)
The Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) program is specifically designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing a range of health professions degrees. If you are committed to healthcare and pursuing a degree as a:
- Doctor of Allopathic Medicine
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- Doctor of Dentistry
- Bachelor or Doctor of Science in Pharmacy
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- Doctor of Optometry
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
and meet the criteria for disadvantaged students, the LDS program can provide crucial financial support for your education.
Is Your School Eligible for LDS?
Schools are eligible for the LDS program if they offer degrees in the following disciplines:
- Allopathic/Osteopathic Medicine
- Podiatry
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary Medicine
This program aims to broaden access to healthcare education for students from diverse backgrounds, enriching the healthcare workforce.
How to Apply for LDS?
The application process for the LDS program mirrors the HPSL program, ensuring ease of access for institutions:
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Review Instructions and SF424 Form: Begin by reading the SF424 instructions (PDF – 188 KB) and complete the SF424 form (PDF – 146 KB). Remember to “Enable All Features” in Adobe Reader if prompted.
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Complete the LDS Program Application: Access and fill out the Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) Program Application (PDF – 289 KB) application form.
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Submit Application Materials: Submit both the SF424 and the LDS program application to the program officer to complete your school’s application.
Who to Contact for LDS Program Queries?
For any inquiries or support needed for the LDS program, please contact the LDS Program Officer, Devonaline Horne, via Email LDS Program Officer Devonaline Horne.
Nursing Student Loans (NSL)
The Nursing Student Loan (NSL) program is dedicated to supporting students pursuing a career in nursing. If you are committed to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) and are enrolled full-time or half-time in a program leading to:
- A diploma degree in Nursing
- An associate degree in Nursing
- A baccalaureate degree in Nursing
- A graduate degree in Nursing
then the NSL program is specifically designed to assist you in financing your nursing education.
Is Your School Eligible for NSL?
Eligibility for the NSL program is straightforward: your school must offer a degree program in nursing. This ensures that institutions focused on nursing education can provide this valuable loan program to their students.
How to Apply for NSL?
Applying for the NSL program follows the same standardized process, simplifying it for nursing schools:
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SF424 Instructions and Form: Start by reviewing the SF424 instructions (PDF – 188 KB) and completing the SF424 form (PDF – 146 KB). Ensure compatibility with Adobe Reader by enabling all features if necessary.
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Complete the NSL Program Application: Fill out the Application to Participate in the Nursing Student Loan (NSL) Program (PDF – 97 KB) application form.
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Submit Application Documents: Submit both the SF424 form and the NSL program application to the respective program officer to finalize the application.
Who to Contact for NSL Program Queries?
For questions about associate, diploma, and graduate nursing programs, please email NSL Program Officer Jerry Locklear.
For inquiries regarding the baccalaureate nursing program, please email NSL Program Officer Tinika Mayo.
Primary Care Loans (PCL)
The Primary Care Loans (PCL) program is focused on increasing the number of healthcare professionals in primary care. If you are dedicated to primary care and pursuing a doctoral degree full-time in either:
- Allopathic medicine (MD)
- Osteopathic medicine (DO)
and are committed to a career in primary care, the PCL program offers targeted financial support to help you achieve your goals.
Is Your School Eligible for PCL?
Schools are eligible for the PCL program if they offer doctoral degrees in either allopathic or osteopathic medicine. This program is crucial for institutions committed to training the next generation of primary care physicians.
How to Apply for PCL?
The application process for the PCL program is consistent with the other loan programs, ensuring a streamlined approach for medical schools:
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Review SF424 Materials: Begin with the SF424 instructions (PDF – 188 KB) and complete the SF424 form (PDF – 146 KB). Address any Adobe Reader compatibility issues by enabling all features.
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Complete the PCL Program Application: Fill out the Application to Participate in the Primary Care Loans (PCL) Program (PDF – 92 KB) application form.
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Submit Required Documents: Submit both the SF424 form and the PCL program application to the program officer to complete the application process.
Who to Contact for PCL Program Queries?
For any questions or assistance regarding the Primary Care Loan program, please contact the PCL Program Officer, Jim Essel, via Email PCL Program Officer Jim Essel.
Loan Flexibility and Further Assistance
Addressing Existing Student Loan Burdens: We recognize that many students may already have existing loans. To help alleviate financial stress, particularly for those in their later years of study, our programs allow for increased loan amounts for 3rd and 4th-year students. These additional funds can be used to repay outstanding balances from previous loans incurred while attending your institution, offering significant financial relief.
Commitment to Primary Care: Students who benefit from the Primary Care Loan program are expected to commit to primary care. Specifically, recipients must:
- Complete residency training in primary care within four years of graduation.
- Practice primary care for a minimum of ten years or until the loan is fully repaid, whichever comes first.
For more detailed information, please refer to the PCL: Frequently Asked Questions.
Promotional Resources
Help Us Spread the Word: Do you know a public college or university that could benefit from offering these loan programs? Your help in promoting these initiatives is invaluable. We encourage you to share information about our School-Administered Loan programs with potential applicants.
Download and Share: Utilize our free shareable resource toolkit (PDF – 3MB) to promote these vital loan programs within your network.
Contact Us
Are you part of your school’s financial aid team or interested in learning more? Stay updated on our loan programs by signing up for our updates.
For direct assistance, please call us at: 1-800-221-9393. We are here to support you in making health professions education accessible and affordable.
