Paying for Medical and Professional School

Looking for information about paying for the application process? Check out our “Managing the Costs of Applying” resource!

Students often inquire about the availability of scholarships and grants to pay for med school or another health profession graduate program. While programs do offer some institutional financial aid, most professional school students pay for their training through student loans. Fortunately, there are a variety of loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs at both the state and national levels to assist health care professionals in reducing their overall student debt. Additionally, some professional associations, like the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and civic organizations (see the Iowa Farm Bureau and MercyOne Auxiliary) offer financial assistance for health professions training. Be sure to research scholarships offered in your hometown and county. The list below is intended to be a starting point for your research; it is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all current assistance programs.