Below is a list of various scholarship and loan repayment options available nationwide for physician assistant students and recent graduates. Please note that this list is not comprehensive. Additionally, many of these opportunities have annual deadlines; if you miss a deadline this year, be sure to apply for the following year, and be mindful of the specific requirements associated with each option. Each title is hyperlinked to the scholarship/loan repayment site.

Scholarship/Scholarship Programs:

• AAPA Veterans Caucus Scholarship – The AAPA Veterans Caucus seeks to recognize the achievements of an outstanding veteran of one of the seven branches of the Uniformed Services who is currently enrolled in a PA program. Multiple scholarship options are available.
• Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology – This $2,500 award consists of two parts: $500 to help with travel to AAPA’s Annual Conference to receive the award and $2,000 (unrestricted).
• Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) to students receiving education or training in a direct or indirect health care services discipline and to assist in providing an adequate supply of such personnel for VA and the United States.
• Indian Health Service Scholarship Program – Financial assistance for federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Native students enrolled in health professions and allied health professions programs.
• National Health Service Corps Scholarship – The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing an eligible training or degree program for a primary care health profession. In return, scholars commit to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Must commit to a minimum of two years (and four years maximum) of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site in a HPSA. The total number of years you serve depends on the number of school years of NHSC Scholarship support you receive. The funding cannot exceed four school years.
• PAs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PAHPM) – The Eva Dimitrov, MD & PAHPM Student Scholarship offers $1,500 grants to currently enrolled PA students through
• PAs for Latino Health – Scholarship which offers $1000 annually to currently enrolled PA students.
• Physician Assistant Foundation – The PA Foundation offers competitive scholarships for PA students who are currently attending an accredited PA program, in the professional phase of the program, and are student members of AAPA.
• Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery – The Susan Lindahl Memorial Scholarship Fund offers two $5,000 scholarships established to encourage young PA students to enter the field of orthopedics.
• Prentiss L. Harrison Memorial/African Heritage PA Caucus Scholarship – Scholarship which offers a $500-$1,500 award range to a deserving student who is currently enrolled in an accredited PA program, has completed one term of PA studies, is in good standing with their PA program, and has submitted a completed application.
• Society of PAs in Otorhinolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery – Monetary scholarships are offered to physician assistant students interested in a career in ENT.
• U.S. Navy Health Services Collegiate Program – This program is designed to provide financial incentives for college students in designated health care professions while completing baccalaureate degree requirements.

Repayment Opportunities

• National Health Service Corps – Licensed primary care clinicians can receive loan repayment assistance through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Providers must be in an eligible discipline. In exchange for loan repayment, you must serve at least two years at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
• U.S. Army Health Care Team – A three-year loan repayment program for any certified Physician Assistant who wants to serve as an Army PA.
• WV Department of Health – Loan Repayment is available in return for a service obligation in a Health Professions Shortage Area. The SLRP will pay for qualified government and commercial educational loans obtained for medical school tuition, reasonable educational expenses required by the training program, and/or reasonable living expenses.Services must be provided in a HPSA for a minimum of (2) two years, (40) forty hours per week at an eligible facility within the state of West Virginia. Upon completion of the initial (2) two year obligation agreement, an awardee may re-apply to the SLRP for a (1) year extension. An awardee may receive a maximum of (2) one year extensions, upon completion they are no longer eligible for award under the SLRP.