Nurse Faculty Loan Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) funds to nursing schools to help graduate students who plan to become nursing faculty upon graduation. The loan can be used for tuition, fees, books, and other educational supplies, but not living expenses.

Loan applications are submitted directly to the School. UW disburses the funds after approval. There is no application deadline. A minimum enrollment of 5 credits per quarter is required. It is not necessary for students to contact HRSA.

  • Funding varies based on each student’s educational expenses up to $35,000 per year, as determined by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid. Up to 85% of the total loan amount is canceled if the borrower maintains eligible employment (as a full-time faculty member, part-time faculty who is also a preceptor, or full-time ARNP with an adjunct or affiliate faculty position) for the first four years after graduation.
  • Borrowers will then have six years to repay the remaining 15% of the principal balance, plus interest (with a 3% interest rate). The interest rate will revert to the prevailing market rate (6.8% in 2020) if the borrower does not complete the degree or does not meet the four-year faculty employment requirement.
  • Applicants must be a Master’s, DNP, or Ph.D. student in good standing, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and plan to teach in a faculty role upon graduation.
  • Completion of the FAFSA is required to verify citizenship/residency (UW Federal Code 003798).
  • NFLP borrowers are allowed up to 12 months to gain employment following graduation from their course of study.

Eligible employment as a nurse faculty

“Nurse Faculty” is defined as an academic educator (faculty) or a clinical educator/instructor role at an accredited school of nursing, or a clinical educator/preceptor role at an accredited health facility. “Full-time” nurse faculty employment is designated by the lending institution. Full-time employment status may include: being employed as a full-time faculty member in an accredited school of nursing, being employed as a part-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing in combination with another part-time faculty position or a part-time clinical educator/preceptor position at an accredited health facility, affiliated with an accredited school of nursing that together equates to full-time employment. For example:

  • 1 Full-time Faculty position (tenure or non-tenure track) = 1 Full-time employment status
  • 1 Part-time faculty position (adjunct faculty/clinical instructor/part-time faculty) + 1 Part-time faculty position = 1 Full-time employment status
  • 1 Part-time faculty position + 1 Clinical educator position (clinical educator, clinical preceptor) = 1 Full-time employment status

Eligibility

  • Be a student in the master of nursing program with a credit load of at least 5 credits.
  • Complete the FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid.
  • Have no judgment liens entered against him/her based on the default on a federal debt.
  • Be a citizen or national of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and its territories.
  • Maintain “good academic standing” while enrolled in the advanced nurse education program.
  • Maintain enrollment for a minimum of two consecutive terms (quarters or semesters) during an academic year while receiving NFLP loan support. Students enrolled in the last year of the program are not required to enroll for two terms (quarters or semesters) if program requirements are met.)

Application request

The NFLP process begins in early summer and the loan is processed in September. Students who would like to borrow an NFLP loan should complete the following steps:

  • Complete the FAFSA. (UW Federal Code 003798).
  • Send a message with the subject line “Request for NFLP application” to cesmith3@uw.edu. A loan application and instructions will then be returned to you after the UW Office of Student Financial Aid determines the eligible loan amount.
  • Complete the NFLP application and return it as instructed. After a final review, the application will then be sent to UW Student Fiscal Services for processing.
  • Sign the promissory note sent by UW Fiscal Services. After a mandatory three-day waiting period once the promissory note is signed, the funds will be disbursed to your student account.