The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a federal program designed to increase the number of graduate nursing students who pursue careers as faculty in schools of nursing.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce Division of Nursing and Public Health, and allows nursing schools to make loans to their students enrolled full-time or part-time in advanced degree nursing programs.

Recipients of the NFLP loan may receive up to 85% of loan cancellation upon meeting the full-time employment requirement. 

Within 12 months of graduation, recipients must meet the full-time employment requirement and the borrower can cancel up to 20% per year for the first, second and third years of full time employment, and 25% for the fourth year of employment for a maximum of 85% of the total NFLP loan.

Those who fail to meet one of the full-time employment definitions, within 12 months of graduation, or take a leave from school, must repay the loan with interest. Recipients will sign a promissory note with the Office of Student Financial Services.

Please note, NFLP borrowers are allowed up to 12 months to gain employment following graduation from their course of study.  The allowance period goes beyond the grace period for repayment (9 months), and provides the borrowers additional time to meet their service obligation and receive loan cancellation.

Recipients can receive financial awards for the academic year to offset a portion of the cost of tuition, books, fees and other reasonable educational expenses.

Awards may be renewable but this is contingent upon ongoing federal funding and therefore subject to change.

School of Nursing full-time or part-time DNP, PhD or MS Nurse Educator students are eligible to apply if they are committed to a faculty role, in good academic standing, are US citizens or permanent residents and not in default on any prior student loans. 

Top priority will be given to students who do not have funding from other sources.

If you are granted a Nursing Faculty Loan you must:

• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Maintain at least part-time (4.5 credits/semester for fall and spring; 2.5 credits for summer) student status. (Note: Once PhD students are post-comps, continuous enrollment of 2 credit hours in fall and spring and 1 credit hour in the summer meets the part-time enrollment requirements).
• Maintain enrollment for a minimum of two consecutive semesters.
• Complete their educational program (DNP, PhD or MS Nurse Educator) within 5 years of initial funding.
• Sign a promissory note and a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities online.
• Complete the specified education component(s) for the advanced nurse education program prior to graduating from the program for DNP, PhD and MS Nurse Educator students.
• Follow these application procedures for each year continued funding is desired (as required by HHS). Funding is contingent upon ongoing federal funding

Fill out application and review the application disclosure document listed below (see “Forms” page for your specific graduate nursing program as listed below):

• 2024-2025 NFLP application form – Applications have closed for the 2024 award cycle
• Disclosure 1-Nurse Faculty Loan
• Submit your FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Need is not a criteria but is part of the federal approval process for this loan program.

If NFLP funding is awarded by HRSA, a link with application details is posted to this web page (see above) and will be sent to enrolled students generally late spring/early summer when award notifications are received. Applications should be completed and returned by the date indicated on the application form.

Contact Mary Younker at Maryyounker@missouri.edu or call (573) 882-0228.