Minnesota Rural Public Health Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program

About this program

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care offers the Rural Public Health Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program to repay qualified educational loans for nurses serving areas with limited health care access. Selected participants may receive up to $6,000 annually, or $24,000 over four years, subject to available state funding; applications are accepted November 1, 2026, through January 6, 2027. Eligible applicants must be Minnesota-licensed registered nurses certified as public health nurses and employed in a public health role for a county, elementary school, or related organization, excluding hospitals. Participants must live and work in Minnesota, provide at least 30 hours of direct service per week for 45 weeks annually, and complete a minimum three-year service obligation in a designated rural area.