Loan Repayment
Nevada continues to experience a significant shortage of physicians and other healthcare professionals, creating real challenges for communities across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas. To help reduce financial barriers for those pursuing careers in health care and public health, a variety of loan‑repayment programs are available to support students and professionals who commit to serving where they are needed most. The opportunities listed below offer meaningful financial relief while strengthening Nevada’s healthcare workforce.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the remaining balance on Direct federal student loans for people who work full‑time in qualifying public service jobs—such as government or nonprofit organizations—and make 120 qualifying monthly payments under an income‑driven repayment plan. It’s designed to reduce the long‑term financial burden for those who commit to careers that serve their communities, and once all requirements are met, the remaining loan balance is forgiven tax‑free under current federal rules.
Nevada Health Service Corps | University of NV, Reno
- A practitioner may enter into the Nevada Health Service Corps by engaging in full-time clinical practice in an assigned medically-underserved community in exchange for loan repayment funds.
- Eligibility: physicians (MD, DO), physician assistants (PA), registered nurses (RN), advanced practice registered nurses (NP), dentists, (DDS, DMD), certified nurse midwives (CNM), pharmacists (PharmD), marriage and family therapists (MFT), clinical psychologists (PhD), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).
National Health Service Corps
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) funds loan repayment and scholarship programs to assist states with recruitment and retention of health care providers, based on federally designated health professional shortage areas (HPSA). The Primary Care Office (PCO) serves as a liaison for the state, to conduct program outreach and to help facilities achieve and maintain status as approved NHSC sites to host providers participating in these programs.
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment to nurses who serve at least two years at a critical shortage facility in a high need area or accredited school of nursing in a U.S. state or territory. By serving for two years, you would receive up to 60% of your unpaid nursing education debt. If you serve a third year, you could receive up to 85% of your unpaid debt. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application will open soon!
Pennington Rural Health Services Loan Repayment Program | State of NV
The Pennington Rural Health Services Loan Repayment Program offers student loan repayment to licensed healthcare professionals who commit to serving in rural and underserved communities at approved sites. It helps reduce educational debt while strengthening access to primary care, behavioral health, dental, and other essential services in areas with the greatest need. The current application cycle is open until Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET, giving eligible clinicians a chance to receive meaningful financial support while serving high‑need populations.