Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses

NURSE Corps repays up to 85% of qualifying nursing education loans | Updated April 2026

NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program (Up to 85% Forgiven)

The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program (NCLRP) is one of the most generous loan forgiveness programs available to any profession. Administered by HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), it repays up to 85% of your qualifying nursing education loans in exchange for working at a Critical Shortage Facility or eligible nursing school.

How NURSE Corps Works

Initial 2-year commitment: 60% of your outstanding qualifying nursing education loans are repaid
Optional 3rd year: An additional 25% is repaid, bringing the total to 85%
Payments are made directly to your loan holder on your behalf
The repayment amounts are not taxable as income

Eligibility Requirements

Be a licensed registered nurse (RN), advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or nurse faculty member
Have unpaid nursing education loans from an accredited school of nursing
Work full-time at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) or an accredited school of nursing
Be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
Not have any federal judgment liens or delinquent federal debt

Application Process

Check if your employer is a designated Critical Shortage Facility at the HRSA Data Portal
Gather your nursing education loan documentation, transcripts, and nursing license
Apply online at the NURSE Corps LRP portal during the annual application cycle (typically opens in February)
Applications are scored competitively based on shortage area severity and applicant qualifications
If selected, sign a service agreement committing to your 2-year service obligation

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Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for Nurses

Nurses working at government hospitals, VA medical centers, public health departments, or 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospitals qualify for PSLF. This program forgives your remaining Direct Loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years), with no cap on the amount forgiven.

PSLF Requirements for Nurses

Work full-time (30+ hours/week) for a qualifying employer
Have Direct Loans (consolidate other federal loans if needed)
Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan
Make 120 qualifying monthly payments
Submit the Employment Certification Form (ECF) annually

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) for Nurse Practitioners

The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers up to $50,000 in loan repayment for nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who commit to working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for at least 2 years.

2-year commitment: Up to $50,000 for full-time service in a HPSA
Half-time option: Up to $25,000 for part-time service (20+ hours/week)
Continuation awards: Additional $20,000-$30,000 per year for extended service
Can be combined with PSLF (payments made during NHSC service count toward PSLF's 120 payments)

State Nursing Loan Repayment Programs

Many states offer their own nursing loan repayment or forgiveness programs, particularly for nurses working in underserved areas. These can often be combined with federal programs:

State	Program	Amount	Commitment
California	SNAPLE Program	Up to $10,000	Work in state facility for 24 months
Texas	Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment	Up to $12,000/year	Teach nursing in Texas
New York	NYS Nurses Across New York	Up to $20,000	3-year service in underserved area
Florida	Florida Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness	Up to $4,000/year	Work in Florida nursing shortage area
Minnesota	MN Nurse Loan Forgiveness	Up to $6,000/year	Work in designated rural area
Oregon	Oregon Nursing Faculty Tax Credit	Tax credit program	Teach in Oregon nursing program

Combining Multiple Programs

Nurses can potentially stack multiple programs to maximize forgiveness:

NURSE Corps + PSLF: Apply for NURSE Corps to get 60-85% repaid. If you have remaining loans, your qualifying payments during this period can count toward PSLF.
NHSC + PSLF: NHSC payments made on your behalf count as qualifying PSLF payments.
State programs + federal programs: Most state programs can be combined with federal programs since they target different loan portions.

FAQ: Nurse Loan Forgiveness

How competitive is the NURSE Corps program?

NURSE Corps is moderately competitive. Priority is given to applicants working in the highest-shortage facilities. RNs in rural areas and psychiatric-mental health NPs tend to have the strongest applications. Submit a thorough application with all required documentation to maximize your chances.

Do LPNs qualify for NURSE Corps?

No. The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program is limited to registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty members. LPNs/LVNs may qualify for other state-based programs or PSLF if working for a qualifying employer.

Can travel nurses qualify for PSLF?

It depends. PSLF requires full-time employment with a qualifying employer. If a travel nurse is employed directly by a qualifying government or nonprofit hospital (not a staffing agency), the time may count. However, most travel nurses are employed by private staffing agencies, which generally do not qualify.

What is the best strategy for a new nurse graduate with $50K+ in loans?

Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan immediately. If you can work at a Critical Shortage Facility, apply for NURSE Corps. Simultaneously, submit your PSLF Employment Certification Form. Apply for state programs as well. This multi-pronged approach can eliminate most or all of your debt within 3-10 years.

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Student Loan Facts You Should Know

$1.77T Total U.S. student loan debt held by 43 million borrowers

$503/mo Average monthly student loan payment for borrowers in repayment

$14K–$20K Potential savings from refinancing to a lower interest rate

50–70% Payment reduction possible with income-driven repayment plans

$62B+ Forgiven through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) to date

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Loans

How do I know if I qualify for student loan forgiveness?

Eligibility depends on the forgiveness program. For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), you must work full-time for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer, have Direct Loans, be on an income-driven repayment plan, and make 120 qualifying payments. For income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness, any remaining balance is forgiven after 20–25 years of payments. Teachers may qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness after 5 years at a low-income school. Use our forgiveness checker to evaluate your eligibility.

Should I refinance my student loans?

Refinancing can save you thousands if you have a strong credit score (typically 700+) and can secure a lower interest rate. However, refinancing federal loans into private loans means permanently losing access to income-driven repayment plans, PSLF eligibility, and federal forbearance protections. Refinancing is usually best for borrowers with private loans or those who don’t need federal protections. Compare your options with our refinance rate comparison tool.

What is income-driven repayment and how does it work?

Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans cap your monthly payments at a percentage of your discretionary income. The main plans include SAVE/REPAYE (5–10% of discretionary income), PAYE (10%), IBR (10–15%), and ICR (20%). After 20–25 years of payments, any remaining balance is forgiven. IDR plans are ideal for borrowers whose payments under standard repayment are unaffordable relative to their income. Calculate your IDR payments with our IDR calculator.

How can I pay off student loans faster?

Proven strategies include: 1) Make extra payments toward principal each month. 2) Use the avalanche method by targeting the highest-interest loan first. 3) Set up biweekly payments instead of monthly (adds one extra payment per year). 4) Refinance to a lower rate to reduce total interest. 5) Direct windfalls like tax refunds and bonuses toward your loans. Even an extra $100/month can shave years off a 10-year repayment plan. Try our repayment comparison tool to see the impact.

What’s the difference between federal and private student loans?

Federal loans are issued by the U.S. Department of Education with fixed interest rates set by Congress, and they offer income-driven repayment, forgiveness programs, deferment, and forbearance. Private loans are issued by banks, credit unions, or online lenders with rates based on your creditworthiness. Private loans typically lack IDR plans, forgiveness, or federal protections, but may offer lower rates for borrowers with excellent credit. Most financial advisors recommend exhausting federal loan options before borrowing privately.

Can I deduct student loan interest on my taxes?

Yes. You can deduct up to $2,500 per year in student loan interest paid, even if you don’t itemize deductions. The deduction phases out for single filers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $75,000 and $90,000, and for married filing jointly between $155,000 and $185,000. Both federal and private student loan interest qualifies. Learn more with our student loan tax guide.

How Much Can You Save? Real Scenarios

Refinancing Savings

$50,000 in loans at 6.8% interest rate

↓ Refinance to 4.5%

Save $8,400 over the life of the loan

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Income-Driven Repayment

$30,000 in loans on standard repayment

↓ Switch to IDR plan

Payments drop from $345/mo to $180/mo

Calculate Your IDR Payment →

PSLF Forgiveness

Teacher with $40,000 in federal loans

↓ PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments

Remaining balance may be forgiven if all requirements are met

Check Your Forgiveness Eligibility →