Minnesota Rural Advanced Practice Provider Loan Forgiveness Guidelines

About this program

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care offers loan forgiveness to advanced practice providers who provide primary care in designated rural Minnesota areas. Participants may receive up to $15,000 annually, for a maximum of four years or $60,000, to repay qualified educational loans, subject to available funds. Eligible applicants include nurse practitioners, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and advanced clinical nurse specialists who live and work in Minnesota and provide at least 30 hours of direct patient care per week for 45 weeks annually. Applicants must commit to at least three years of rural service, with applications submitted through the Online Grants Portal during the Nov. 1, 2026–Jan. 6, 2027 application cycle.