Does Washington have a student loan repayment program?

Yes. Washington programs we found on official sources include: Washington Health Corps. Most require a service commitment in a shortage area.

Can I combine a Washington program with federal forgiveness?

Sometimes. Rules differ by program, and some don't allow the same service period to count twice. Ask the program administrator before you sign a contract.

Washington Student Loan Repayment & Forgiveness Programs

State-run student loan repayment programs in Washington, summarized from official sources with the date we last checked them. Federal programs that work in every state are listed below.

Washington Health Corps

Washington Student Achievement Council

Health care

Who it's for: Licensed health professionals at approved sites in shortage areas.
Service required: Two or three years depending on the program.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Federal programs available in every state

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Any field Public service

Award: Remaining Direct Loan balance forgiven
Who it's for: Borrowers working full time for a government or qualifying nonprofit employer.
Service required: 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Teachers

Award: Up to $17,500
Who it's for: Full-time teachers in low-income schools or educational service agencies.
Service required: Five complete and consecutive academic years of qualifying teaching.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and income-driven repayment

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Any field

Award: Payment based on income; remaining balance forgiven after the plan's repayment period
Who it's for: Most federal Direct Loan borrowers.
Service required: Monthly payments based on income and family size.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

NHSC Loan Repayment Program

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Health care Physicians & PAs Dental Mental & behavioral health

Award: Up to $75,000
Who it's for: Licensed primary care, dental and behavioral health clinicians.
Service required: Two years at an approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Health care Nurses

Who it's for: Registered nurses, advanced practice RNs and nurse faculty.
Service required: Two years at a critical shortage facility or eligible nursing school, with an option for a third year.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Any field Physicians & PAs

Award: Eligible federal loans discharged
Who it's for: Borrowers who are totally and permanently disabled.
Service required: Documentation from the VA, SSA, or a physician.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

NIH Loan Repayment Programs

National Institutes of Health

Health care Researchers Nurses Physicians & PAs Dental Mental & behavioral health Pharmacists Veterinarians

Award: Up to $50,000 a year
Who it's for: Researchers with a doctoral-level degree doing qualifying biomedical or behavioral research, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and veterinarians in research.
Service required: Two-year (or longer) contract to do qualifying research.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program

Indian Health Service (HHS)

Health care Rural service Nurses Physicians & PAs Dental Mental & behavioral health Pharmacists

Award: Up to $50,000
Who it's for: Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, behavioral health and other health clinicians serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Service required: Initial two-year service commitment at an eligible Indian health program site.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Health care Rural service Nurses Physicians & PAs Mental & behavioral health Pharmacists

Award: Up to $100,000 for full-time service
Who it's for: Physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, counselors and other clinicians treating substance use disorders in rural communities.
Service required: Three years at a rural NHSC-approved substance use disorder treatment facility.

The 2026 cycle accepted applications Jan 30 to Mar 31, 2026; check the official page for the next cycle.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Health care Nurses Physicians & PAs Mental & behavioral health Pharmacists

Who it's for: Licensed clinicians, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, counselors and other behavioral health professionals, providing substance use disorder treatment.
Service required: Service at an NHSC-approved substance use disorder treatment facility.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Faculty Loan Repayment Program

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Health care Nurses Dental Mental & behavioral health Pharmacists

Who it's for: Health professions faculty from disadvantaged backgrounds, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and behavioral health faculty.
Service required: Two years as faculty at an eligible health professions school.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Veterinarians Rural service

Award: Up to $40,000 a year
Who it's for: Veterinarians willing to practice in a USDA-designated veterinary shortage area.
Service required: Three-year service commitment in a designated veterinary shortage area.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program

U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance

Lawyers Public service Dental

Who it's for: Full-time state and local prosecutors and state, local and federal public defenders.
Service required: At least three years of continued service; administered by a governor-designated agency in each state.

Up to $10,000 a year and $60,000 lifetime per the FY 2026 federal funding notice. Apply through your state's designated agency.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Perkins Loan Cancellation

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Teachers Public service Any field Nurses

Award: Up to 100% of a Perkins Loan
Who it's for: Perkins borrowers in qualifying jobs such as teachers, nurses, law enforcement, firefighters and others.
Service required: Qualifying full-time service; cancellation builds year by year.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Closed School Discharge

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Any field

Award: Eligible federal loans discharged
Who it's for: Borrowers whose school closed while they were enrolled or soon after they withdrew.
Service required: No service required; apply with your servicer.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

Any field Dental

Award: Eligible federal loans discharged
Who it's for: Borrowers whose school misled them or broke certain laws.
Service required: No service required; apply to Federal Student Aid.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 · Official source ↗

Tools for Washington borrowers

Still in school, or have a younger family member heading to college? Borrowing less is the easiest loan to repay. See Washington scholarships and state grants on Scholarships Closing Soon.

Hoping to buy a home? Mortgage lenders count your student loan payment in your debt-to-income ratio. See Washington down payment assistance programs on DPA Finder.

← All states · Open Washington in the finder

Get loan repayment deadline alerts

State loan repayment programs often open for only a few weeks. We'll email you 30 days and 7 days before confirmed deadlines for your state and key federal dates.

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