To cope with a national nursing shortage, the Department of Health & Human Services has announced a 50% increase in funding for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment program (NELRP). The program could repay 60% of your outstanding education loans for two years of service in a designated facility that faces a critical shortage of nurses. If you agree to serve for three years, repayment increases to 85%.

More information, including complete eligibility rules and application forms can be found at US Department of Health and Human Services or by calling NELRP toll-free at 866-813-3753. This program is administered entirely by the Department of Health & Human Services, not by University Accounting Service or your lending institution. Funds are paid directly to you for repayment of your loans.

Loan types that can be repaid include all government and commercial loans obtained by you for expenses related to your undergraduate and graduate nursing education. Some examples include:

• Nursing Student Loans (NSL)
• Federal Perkins/National Direct Student Loans
• Stafford Loans
• Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL)
• Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)

Loan funds must have been used to pay tuition or required fees, reasonable educational expenses, and/or reasonable living expenses during your nursing education.