Pennsylvania offers loan repayment for nursing
Pennsylvania has launched a $5 million Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to address workforce shortages by providing nursing students with up to $20,000 annually in combined state and employer-funded student loan repayment assistance. The program offers up to $10,000 per year from the state, matched dollar for dollar by participating hospitals, for students who agree to work at a participating Pennsylvania hospital for three years after graduation. State officials estimate that approximately 200 nursing students could receive assistance during the program’s first year. The initiative responds to persistent staffing challenges, with an estimated 15 percent of nursing positions at Pennsylvania hospitals vacant and a projected statewide shortage of 22,000 nurses by 2028. The program builds on earlier workforce initiatives and complements broader efforts to expand nursing education, improve recruitment and retention, and streamline professional licensing. State officials report that average nursing license processing times decreased from 25 days in 2023 to six days in 2025, while interstate licensing compacts have expanded practice opportunities for eligible nurses licensed in other participating states.