Deadline nears to apply for veterinary student loan repayment program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that pays veterinarians up to $75,000 over three years to practice in underserved areas is taking applications until June 22. 

The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) uses student loan assistance to incentivize veterinarians to provide care in areas lacking access to veterinary care. The initiative has placed 245 veterinarians in “high-priority veterinary shortage situations” since it was launched in 2010, according to the release.

Eligible participants must have a DVM degree (or the equivalent) and qualifying educational loan debt. Finalists will receive offers in September.  

“Although recipients of the loan repayment assistance are only required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated shortage area … the impacts from this funding and connections go well beyond three years,” says Gary Sherman, VMLRP national program leader.

For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp or contact Joseph Perez at (202) 401-3486 or jperez@nifa.usda.gov.