Scholarships, Grants and Loan Repayment Programs for Physician Assistants

PA School is Expensive

It goes without saying, PA school is expensive.

PA school is also demanding, which means you will have limited time (if any) to work while attending school.

With the average undergraduate education debt prior to PA school at $36,300 and the average anticipated debt load from PA school at $75,000-$124,000, it is important that you have a rock-solid plan for how you are going to pay for your PA school education.

Funding sources vary and federal loan programs will probably form the foundation of your assistance package, many states also offer financial aid funding.

Additionally, there are specialized scholarships, traineeships, and loan programs available. Remember — apply the resources for scholarships and grants before you accept loans. Then, only accept loans that you need.

Work closely with your financial aid department. They will be able to inform you about special loans and scholarships for which you may be eligible.

Federal and State Resources

Numerous loans and grants guaranteed by the federal government are available to qualified students. Visit the website for Federal Student Aid sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.
• Federal Stafford Student Loan Program: These loans are offered through your bank, credit union, or other lending institutions. Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 per year up to a total of $65,000. To qualify for a Stafford loan, you must demonstrate financial need as determined by the CM formula mentioned above. The interest rate varies. These loans are based on need, not creditworthiness. Therefore, no cosigner is necessary.

State sources of financial assistance include an agency in each state that guarantees federal student loans. Also, some states offer their own educational assistance programs with loans or grants. Check with your financial aid office to locate the office(s) in your home state.

Tax Credits are another option to explore.                                            

Scholarships and Traineeships

• Americorps is a national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S. and is open to U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents aged 17 or older. This program helps pay for education in exchange for a year of service.
• The Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship program provides financial assistance for American Indian and Alaskan Native (federally recognized only) students enrolled in health professions and allied health professions programs. The IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) was created to support this mission by providing health professionals the financial freedom to fulfill your career goals. The IHS LRP awards up to $20,000 per year for the repayment of your qualified student loans in exchange for an initial two-year service obligation to practice full time at an Indian health program site.
• The National Health Service Corps Program (NHSC) is a competitive federal program. Students dedicated to practicing primary care in communities of greatest need can compete for educational scholarships. I was an NHSC Scholar, and you can read more about that here. They also offer a generous NHSC loan repayment program in exchange for two years of service in a designated healthcare shortage area (see the next section below).
• The Physician Assistant Foundation offers competitive scholarships for PA students who are currently attending an accredited PA program, are in the professional phase of the program and are student members of AAPA. Visit the Foundation web pages for a current application or see below.
• The United States Navy Health Services Collegiate Program is designed to provide financial incentives for college students in designated health care professions while completing baccalaureate degree requirements.
• The U.S. Army Health Care team offers a three-year loan repayment program for any PA- C who wants to serve as an Army PA.
• PAs for Latino Health (PALH), a Caucus of the AAPA, offers a $500 scholarship to currently enrolled PA students each year.
• The Tennessee Physician Assistant Foundation awards the following scholarships each year at FallFest, TAPA’s fall continuing medical education (CME) conference.

Loans, Repayment Programs, and Consolidation Services

• The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program is available to PAs in primary care or current students who plan to become primary care providers after graduation. You must agree to provide primary care services in a priority health professional shortage area for a minimum of two years.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Physician assistants qualify.
  • IMPORTANT: Loan forgiveness is an option after 10 years of payments, but it may not be an option if you refinance your loan during that period. So make sure you read the fine print!
• Sallie Mae Tuition Pay Plans provide quality, low-cost, innovative solutions to paying for education. Tuition Pay is an interest-free plan that lets you break down the large lump-sum payments due at the beginning of each semester into easy-to-manage installments.
• Common Bond: Ever wished your student loans could have a positive effect on society? Common Bond seeks to "reimagine finance based on our belief that business has a responsibility to further social good and promote welfare outside of its immediate customer base." Common Bond is unique in that they bring a 1-for-1 model to education through Social Promise. For every fully funded degree on the CommonBond platform, they fund the education of a student in need for one year through the nonprofit Pencils of Promise. They even fund a trip to Ghana with Pencils of Promise so that borrowers (and employees) can go and meet some of the children who the Social Promise has helped to fund.

Insider's tip: Looking to refinance a loan? Magnify Money is a wonderful website that lets you compare and contrast student loan options.  Just beware that if you have federal loans, refinancing to private loans may result in losing protections like special repayment plans (such as the public loan forgiveness program) that can help you in a time of need. Make sure you can comfortably afford your new payments if you refinance. And take the time to get rates from several providers.

AAPA Constituent Organization Scholarships

The Physician Assistant Foundation offers competitive scholarships for PA students who are currently attending an accredited PA program, are in the professional phase of the program, and are student members of AAPA. Visit the Foundation website for a current application.  The PA students who were awarded scholarships during the 2021 application cycle are listed here.

• The Foundation offers two application cycles each year. Cycle one opens in January and closes in March. Cylce two opens in June and closes in August. Applicants may only apply during one cycle.
  • PA Foundation Scholarship
    14 awards @ $1,000 each
    Open to applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria listed above.
  • AAPA Past Presidents Scholarship
    3 awards @ $1,000 each
    Awarded to students who demonstrate service leadership through their PA program or through a community health organization/project.
  • Ron Nelson Memorial Scholarship
    1 award @ $2,000
    Awarded to students from a rural area who are committed to serving a rural community.
  • NCCPA Endowed Scholarship
    2 awards @ $2,000 each
    Awarded to students who identify as an underrepresented minority and/or economically disadvantaged and/or educationally disadvantaged, based on the definitions provided here.
  • Ron Pace Memorial Scholarship
    1 award @ $1,000
    Awarded to a Florida-based student who is a veteran or the child/dependent of a veteran. Named in memory of Ron Pace, a Florida Academy of Physician Assistants past president and AAPA Outstanding PA of the Year Award recipient, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.
  • William H. Marquardt Community Health Access Scholarship
    1 award @ $2,500
    Aims to benefit PA students who are dedicated to promoting accessible primary and preventive healthcare amongst underserved populations.
  • Joyce Nichols Memorial Scholarship
    4 awards @ $1,000 each
    Awarded to Black PA students. Honors the legacy of PA Joyce Nichols, who overcame much adversity to become the first Black woman to be formally educated as and practice as a PA. She was the first person of color to serve on the AAPA Board of Directors. PA Nichols advocated for and established the AAPA Minority Affairs Committee and served as its first chair.
• Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology offers a $2,500 award for PA students. The award consists of two parts: $500 to help with travel to AAPA's Annual Conference to receive the award and $2,000 (unrestricted). Apply by March 1st.
• California Academy of Physician Assistants offers three annual student scholarships for student members. Apply online by December 31.
• Lesbian, Bisexual, and Gay Physician Assistant Caucus offer $1,000 grants for PA students to attend AAPA's Annual Conference to help foster involvement and awareness of the caucus within the AAPA.
• Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants has six annual student leadership scholarships and three scholarships for students who choose to enter the writing competition. Apply online by June 30.
• Physician Assistant Academy of Vermont offers a scholarship of $1,000 and free attendance at the annual PAAV Winter CME Conference for PA students who are residents of Vermont. Apply by June 30.
• Physician Assistants in Orthopedic Surgery offers one or two $500 scholarships from the Susan Lindahl Memorial Scholarship Fund, established to encourage young PA students to enter the field of orthopedics. Apply by August 15.
• The Society of Army Physician Assistants honors the memory of Captain Sean P. Grimes, through the Captain Sean P. Grimes Physician Assistant Educational Scholarship Award. Apply by February 1st.
• The AAPA Veterans Caucus Scholarship seeks to recognize the achievements of an outstanding veteran of one of the seven branches of the Uniformed Services who is currently enrolled in a PA program.

Note: Grants are similar to scholarships, and availability is based on resources and financial need. When you submit your FAFSA form, you will be considered for Pell Grants.

Also, check your place of employment, organizations, and place of worship for any grants for which you may be eligible.

Unites States Military Service and Loan Repayment Programs

• National Guard Healthcare Bonuses and Loans
  • Physician Assistants and Social Workers:
    • $20,000 per year for a three-year contract
    • $15,000 per year for a two-year contract
    • $10,000 per year for a one-year contract
• National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program
  • Must have 1 or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loans
  • State and private loans are ineligible for repayment
  • PLUS loans are eligible
  • Loans must be listed on the Department of Education National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) aid summary website
  • Must enlist for a minimum 6-year term of service
  • Must enlist for a critical skills (CS) vacancy in the grade of E-4 or below
  • Information:
    • Payments will not exceed $50,000 with annual repayments not to exceed the maximum amount established by law
    • Must enlist into a qualifying position in a MTOE or Medical TDA unit only
    • Must score a minimum of 50 on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT)
• Navy Clinical Care Provider
  • To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration as a Physician Assistant in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:
    • Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S.
    • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
      Completion of a physician assistant education program approved by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA)
    • Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
    • Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
    • Be between the ages of 18 and 41
    • Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination
    • General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you intend to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty and whether you are currently serving, have served before or have never served before.

• Commissioned Corps of the U.S Public health Services: The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps offers two excellent opportunities for students to serve their country while completing or continuing their education. If you are interested in a public health career: Internship/Externship Program and Unique Financial Assistance Program
• Army health Professions Scholarship Program
• Air Force Health Professionals Scholarship

Who Gets the Most Financial Aid?

You might think that the families who receive the most financial aid would be the families with the most need. In fact, this is not necessarily true. The people who receive the most aid are the people who best understand the aid process.

Can I afford Not To Go To PA School?

Can you afford to go to PA school? The question you should be asking is: can I afford not to go to PA school?

If your goal is to become a PA, then the answer to this question is easy. The worst thing you can do is shy away from applying because you think you won’t be able to afford it, and then live the rest of your life wondering, What if?

When I applied to the Rutgers Physician Assistant Program and spoke with students at the open house, they explained that if I were to be accepted the program would do its best to ensure I got through financially. They were right.

I may have borrowed a little more than I intended, but the money was available and after an initial setback I ended up with a highly coveted NHSC Scholarship.

As you will soon find out, there are plenty of opportunities for loans, grants, scholarships, etc. It does, however, take a little work on your part. But since you have set your goals and you’re focused, you are prepared for anything.

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