USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

Reduce Your Student Loan Burden While Serving Communities in Need

The USDA VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians repay educational loans in exchange for service in designated veterinary shortage areas. Authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA), this program is designed to support public and food animal health across underserved regions in the U.S.

Program Highlight

1. Up to $40,000/year in loan repayment
2. 3-year service commitment
3. Serve in high-priority veterinary shortage areas
4. Repayment applies to principal and interest on eligible government and commercial loans

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, applicants must:

• Hold a DVM degree
• Have qualified educational loans
• Be willing to serve in a designated shortage area for at least three years

Apply

• Visit the VMLRP Applicant page
• Learn more about the VMLRP Application Timeline
• Read FAQs: VMLRP FAQ Page

Program Contact Information

• National Program Leader:  Kathe Bjork
• General email address: vmlrp@usda.gov

NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

The NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) helps qualified health professionals—including veterinarians—repay educational loans in exchange for conducting NIH mission-relevant research. This program is designed to retain talented researchers in biomedical and biobehavioral fields by easing the financial burden of student debt.

Program Highlights

1. Up to $50,000/year in loan repayment
2. 2-year initial contract, renewable
3. Focused on clinical research careers and research by individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds

Eligibility

To qualify, applicants must:

• Hold a DVM or equivalent degree
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Have qualified educational debt exceeding 20% of annual income

Apply

• Application Periods & Documentation Timelines
• Loan Repayment Program FAQs
• NIH Division of Loan Repayment