By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Loan Repayment Program (NLRP) is now offering student loan repayment of up to $90,000 for qualified Registered Dietitians (RD) who agree to work in rural communities and state-designated shortage areas. Applicants must have employment lined up at a site in a qualifying shortage area before applying. NLRP requires a 50/50 match for student loan repayment funding between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and a local employer.
“Incentive programs are a vital tool to recruit and retain qualified medical providers in our rural communities or provider shortage areas,” said Dr. Timothy Tesmer, DHHS Chief Medical Officer. “Our rural health incentive programs have positively impacted over 900,000 Nebraskans by ensuring our rural communities have access to compassionate and knowledgeable care.”
The NLRP student loan repayment also offers repayment options to qualified primary care, dental and mental health professionals who agree to practice for three years in a state-designated shortage area in rural Nebraska. Doctors and dentists are eligible for up to $180,000 in loan relief, while other medical professions are eligible for up to $90,000.
To explore qualifying rural communities or state-designated shortage areas, visit https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=e3bbcc604b72448582d83843cf7eb494&page=All-In-One-09-11-2025&views=Allied-Health%3A-Registered-Dietitian
For more information on how to apply for NLRP or other available student loan repayment programs, please visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Rural-Health.aspx.