National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

NHSC Scholarship Program
CFDA 93.288 Active Direct Payment (Specified Use)

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$77.1M FY2026
$113.9M
FY24
$154.3M
FY25
$77.1M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 Fiscal Year 2025: Since its inception in 1972, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has worked to support qualified health care providers dedicated to working in underserved communities in urban, rural, and tribal areas. Across the nation, NHSC clinicians serve patients in HPSAs – communities with limited access to health care. As of September 30, 2024 there were 8,207 primary care HPSAs,7,254 dental HPSAs, and 6,604 mental health HPSAs. The NHSC seeks clinicians who demonstrate a commitment to serve the Nation’s medically underserved populations at NHSC-approved sites located in HPSAs. NHSC-approved sites provide care to individuals regardless of ability to pay; currently, there are over 22,650 NHSC-approved sites. Eligible sites include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alikes, American Indian and Native Alaska health clinics, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals and hospitals managed or owned by the Indian Health Service (IHS), school-based clinics, mobile units, free clinics, community mental health centers, state or local health departments, community outpatient facilities, federal facilities such as the Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, IHS, and private practices. In particular, the NHSC has partnered closely with HRSA-supported FQHCs to help meet their staffing needs. Over 60 percent of NHSC clinicians serve in Health Centers around the nation, and 15 percent of clinical staff at FQHCs are NHSC clinicians. The NHSC also places clinicians in other community-based systems of care that serve underserved populations, targeting HPSAs of greatest need. As of September 30, 2025 there are more than 18,500 primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health practitioners – the largest cohort ever -- serving in the NHSC across nearly 22,650 approved sites across the United States under the NHSC LRPs covered under this document.

Program Objective

The purpose of the NHSC SP is to enter into contracts with students who are in medical dental, or nursing school to provide scholarship assistance in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in eligible communities of need designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Unrestricted by Individual Type
  • Other

At the time of application, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national. The applicant must be enrolled and/or accepted for enrollment and in good academic standing in an accredited school in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory as a full-time student in a course of study leading to a health professional degree. The applicant must be eligible for Federal employment, be free of any Federal judgment liens, not be excluded, debarred, suspended or disqualified by a federal agency, and have no conflicting service obligation. The applicant must submit an application and a signed contract to the NHSC agreeing to accept payment of scholarship and provide full-time primary health services in a HPSA.

Beneficiaries

  • Health Professional
  • Graduate and Professional Higher Education
  • Trainee

The participant must maintain full-time enrollment, with good academic standing in an accredited school in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory as a full-time student in a course of study leading to a health professional degree. The participant must maintain eligibility for Federal employment, be free of any Federal judgment liens, not be excluded, debarred, suspended or disqualified by a federal agency, and have no conflicting service obligation.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

NHSC SP awards are very competitive; the Program anticipates more applicants for scholarship awards than there are funds available. All qualified applications are forwarded to an objective review committee and scored numerically. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Notification to successful and rejected applicants is made no later than September 30th of the application year.

Program details & compliance

Description

The purpose of the NHSC SP is to enter into contracts with students who are in medical dental, or nursing school to provide scholarship assistance in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in eligible communities of need designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

Mission Categories

Primary: Health Education

Other categories:
Nursing EducationDental Education

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Service-obligated scholarships for full-time students of allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) medicine, dentistry, primary care nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, and primary care physician assistants. Other health disciplines may be included if needed by the National Health Service Corps. Scholarships pay tuition and required fees to the school, a monthly stipend to students for living expenses and a single annual payment to the student to assist with other reasonable educational expenses. Reasonable expenses may include books, supplies, equipment, uniforms, travel for the provision of clinical services, etc. The program requires 1 year of service for each year of scholarship support, with a minimum 2-year service commitment after graduation, or post graduate training and/or licensure. A maximum of 4 years of support may be awarded. Service sites are selected by the scholarship recipient from the list of high priority sites in HPSAs identified by the NHSC. Refer to the NHSC Scholarship Application and Program Guidance for specific requirements. (http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/spapplicationguide.pdf).

Required Documentation

Applicants should review the NHSC Scholarship Program Application and Program Guidance on the HRSA website issued under this assistance listing for additional information such as required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Contacts

Israil Ali, National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
(301) 594-4400
Division of National Health Service Corps Bureau of Health Workforce, Room 14N56, Rockville, MD 20857
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-05. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:35:05.