Minnesota Urban Mental Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Program

About this program

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care offers the Urban Mental Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Program to repay qualified educational loans for licensed mental health professionals serving underserved urban communities. Awards provide up to $29,000 annually for psychologists and $11,000 annually for LICSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LADCs, for up to four years or the remaining eligible loan balance, subject to funding availability. Applicants must be licensed, work and live in Minnesota, and provide at least 30 hours of direct patient care per week for 45 weeks annually in a federally designated urban HPSA, MUA, or MUP for a minimum three-year commitment. Applications must be submitted through the Minnesota Grants Portal between November 1, 2026, and January 6, 2027; eligible loans exclude credit-card, family, Parent PLUS, and currently defaulted loans.