While the average physician will leave medical school with six figures of debt, a number of states offer some type of medical loan forgiveness for physicians based on factors including income and practice setting.
Thirty-four states that offer student loan debt relief for physicians, according to a June 4 report from Financial Residency based on data from state government websites:
1. Alaska offers debt relief based on specialty for physicians who practice in a designated healthcare shortage area with primarily Medicaid patients for three years.
2. Arizona offers incentive opportunities for loan repayments for primary care providers who make a two-year program commitment.
3. California pays back up to $50,000 for physicians who commit to practicing in underserved areas for at least two years.
4. Colorado offers up to $90,000 in loan forgiveness for physicians who practice in underserved areas offering primary healthcare services for three years.
5. Delaware offers up to $100,000 in forgiveness for physicians practicing primary or mental health in underserved areas.
6. Georgia offers between $25,000 and $100,000 for physicians who serve in rural areas for two years.
7. Hawaii offers grants for primary care and behavioral health providers who care for patients at nonprofit organizations in care deserts for two years.
8. Idaho offers forgiveness to physicians who work in underserved areas for a public or nonprofit entity.
9. Iowa will forgive up to $200,000 in debt for physicians who practice in rural areas for up to five years.
10. Kansas offers up to $95,000 in forgiveness for primary care healthcare professionals.
11. Kentucky offers up to $35,000 for physicians who make a two-year commitment to practice in healthcare shortage areas.
12. Louisiana offers up to $30,000 annually for up to three years for physicians who practice primary care in healthcare shortage areas.
13. Maine offers relief for primary care physicians who practice in shortage areas or provide care specifically for underserved populations.
14. Massachusetts offers varying amounts of relief for those working in primary care and mental healthcare in underserved areas with lower populations.
15. Michigan offers up to $200,000 in repayment for physicians who commit to practicing in two-year increments for up to eight years in designated shortage areas.
16. Minnesota offers up to $25,000 annually for up to four years for healthcare professionals committed to working in rural areas.
17. Missouri provides up to $50,000 in loan repayment for primary care physicians practicing in shortage areas.
18. Montana provides aid for physicians who work in designated shortage areas for between six months and five years.
19. Nebraska provides up to $60,000 a year for two years for physicians who practice in shortage areas.
20. Nevada provides various amounts of funding for physicians serving in underserved areas for two years.
21. New Hampshire offers up to $75,000 annually for three years and $40,000 annually for an additional two years for physicians working in areas deemed medically underserved.
22. New Jersey offers up to $120,000 for physicians who practice in medically underserved areas.
23. New York offers up to $10,000 a year for two years for primary care physicians who practice in shortage areas.
24. Oklahoma offers up to $160,000 over four years to physicians who practice in rural or underserved areas.
25. Oregon offers repayment for primary care physicians who commit to practicing in rural areas and for medical students who agree to practice in a rural area at least 90 days after graduation. The payment amount varies.
26. Pennsylvania offers between $25,000 and $100,000 for primary care professionals working in underserved areas.
27. Rhode Island offers up to $20,000 annually for four years for primary care providers in the state; however, the program is not currently accepting applications.
28. Texas offers up to $160,000 over four years for primary care providers who practice in healthcare shortage areas or correctional facilities.
29. Vermont offers $20,000 annually for two years for primary healthcare providers.
30. Virginia offers up to $140,000 for four years for those practicing in healthcare shortage areas.
31. Washington offers up to $35,000 annually for two years for those practicing in rural or underserved areas.
32. West Virginia offers up to $90,000 in repayment over four years for primary care physicians.
33. Wisconsin offers up to $50,000 for those working in healthcare shortage areas or rural areas.
34. Wyoming offers up to $40,000 for physicians practicing in healthcare shortage areas; however, the program is not currently accepting applications.