Military Service Scholarships and Loan Repayment Programs
With the cost of a professional college education on the rise, many students are finding themselves overwhelmed by debt. The Armed Forces can help manage college debt with financial aid and special loan repayment programs for qualified students.
What financial aid does the government offer for military service or for family members of military personnel?
The VA offers education benefits for veterans and for their widows and dependents on its GI Bill site.
Many people are not aware that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard can offer you special programs for repaying student debt. If you have Federal Direct Loans, you may be eligible to have these loans totally forgiven by joining the military.
Service Scholarships are provided by governmental agencies and military branches, to provide a career path for many students. After graduation or residency, employment serving undeserved populations or enlistment in the military for a prescribed length of time. Is service right for you? AAMC Academic Medicine provides an extensive resource for those interested in service scholarships.
Army Programs
U.S. Army Scholarships
- The U.S. Army offers three and four year scholarships to all medical and dental students.
- Benefits include full tuition, health insurance, payment for books, equipment, and lab fees required for study. Scholarship recipients also receive a monthly stipend of more than $2,200 for the duration of medical and dental school and qualify for a $20,000 sign-on bonus. Active Duty Service Obligation is year for year for each year of scholarship received.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and be enrolled in, applying to, or have a letter of acceptance from an accredited school in the United States or Puerto Rico. Qualify as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve.
Army Student Loan Repayment: Active Duty
The Army Student Loan Repayment: Active Duty program offers military student loan repayment assistance to people on active duty. Among other requirements, you must enlist for at least three years and score 50 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
If you qualify, the Army will pay up to 33.33 percent of your principal balance each year for three years. You could receive up to $65,000 in loan assistance. Note that you can only use this money to pay off federal student loans, such as Direct, FFEL, and Perkins Loans. Private loans aren’t eligible. Please check out our Army Dental Corps Benefit Presentation
Army Reserve College Loan Repayment Program
If you’re in a qualifying Military Occupational Speciality (MOS), you could get assistance through the Army Reserve College Loan Repayment Program. You must enlist for at least six years and have loans before you go on active duty.
This program will pay 15 percent of your loan balance for up to $20,000. It applies primarily to federal student loans, not to private ones.
Health Professions Student Loan Repayment Program
The Health Professions Loan Repayment Program helps doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals on active duty or in the Army Reserve. Qualifying borrowers can receive up to $40,000 per year for up to three years. This $120,000 in military loan forgiveness could go a long way toward paying off medical or dental school loans.
Prior Service Soldier Loan Repayment Program
Army Reserve soldiers with prior military service can receive up to $50,000 toward student loan payments. You can request more information about student loan forgiveness for veterans through the U.S. Army website.
National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program
Members of the National Guard could receive up to $50,000 in military loan forgiveness. You must enlist for a minimum six-year term of service.
Army National Guard Medical Professional Program
Program provides tuition assistance and GI Bill benefits to students.
Navy Programs
Navy Student Loan Repayment Program
If you’re in the Navy, you could receive up to $40,000 a year in student loan repayment assistance.
U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program
The U.S. Navy scholarship will pay your full tuition, as well as required book fees and provide you with a monthly living expense stipend. You must be a U.S. citizen, meet the Navy’s physical requirements, and graduate by age 42.
Dr Glenn Markenson provides an overview of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) , a Service Scholarship opportunity. As a former recipient and now director of the Center for Military Health, Dr Markenson speaks from personal experience.
Air Force Programs
U.S. Air Force Scholarships
- The United States Air Force offers three and four year scholarships to all medical and dental students. Benefits include all tuition and required fees, including textbooks, small equipment items and supplies for study as well as a monthly living expense allowance.
- Students must apply for the scholarships through an Air Force recruiter. Scholarships will be awarded based on merit. Applicants must be qualified to serve as physicians or dentists in the Air Force.
- Please review the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Fact Sheet for Medical School for further information
Air Force College Loan Repayment Program
The Air Force College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP) is available to any person enlisting with past student loan debt. It awards up to $10,000, made in yearly payments of 33.33 percent of the debt or up to $1,500 — whichever is higher. For more details, please see our Presentation.
Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps Loan Repayment Program
If you join the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, you could get up to $65,000 in student loan repayment assistance. You’ll receive payments over a three year period after your first year of service as a JAG officer.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Service to our country qualifies borrowers for one of the most popular student loan forgiveness programs — Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This program forgives all student loan debt after the borrower makes 120 qualifying payments while working full-time with the military or another qualifying non-profit. Check out our Student Loan Repayment page for more information on PSLF and other loan repayment options.
Note that deferred payments do not count towards the 120 monthly payments and might extend your timeline to receive PSLF.