Washington Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Washington offers 10 student loan repayment assistance and service-based programs through the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). Health care providers, behavioral health workers, and nursing faculty can get up to $75,000 through the Washington Health Corps, whose window runs January 5 to March 6, while future teachers and mental health counselors can have scholarships forgiven through service. Everyone else should start with federal forgiveness programs, where the bigger dollars are.
Washington Programs At A Glance
| Program | Who Qualifies | Maximum Award | Service Required | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Health Corps: State Health Program | Licensed health care providers at approved sites | $75,000, not to exceed loan debt | 3 years full time (up to 5 part time) | Annual Cycle |
| Washington Health Corps: Behavioral Health Program | Licensed behavioral health providers at approved sites | $75,000, not to exceed loan debt | 3 years full time (up to 5 part time) | Annual Cycle |
| Washington Health Corps: Federal Health Program | Primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers in federal HPSAs | $70,000, not to exceed loan debt | 2 years full time | Annual Cycle |
| Nurse Educator Loan Repayment | Nursing faculty with a graduate nursing degree | $75,000, not to exceed loan debt | 3 years full time (up to 5 part time or adjunct) | Annual Cycle |
| Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship | Graduate mental health students and SUD professional certificate students | $41,000 (2- to 3-year graduate programs) | 3 to 5 years at a behavioral health shortage site | Annual Cycle |
| Teacher Shortage Conditional Scholarship | Students in approved teacher preparation programs | $8,000/year for up to 4 years | 1 to 2 school years of teaching per year of aid | Open |
| Alternative Routes Conditional Scholarship | Alternative route certification candidates | $8,000/year for up to 2 years | 1 to 2 school years of teaching per year of aid | Open |
| Pipeline For Paraeducators Conditional Scholarship | Paraeducators without a college degree | $4,000/year for up to 4 years | 1 to 2 school years of teaching per year of aid | Rolling |
| Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship | Certified teachers adding a shortage-area endorsement | $3,000 per endorsement | 1 to 2 school years of teaching per year of aid | Rolling |
| National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant | Washington National Guard members and eligible dependents | $2,500 to $6,500/year, plus up to $500 for books | 1 year of Guard service per year of funding | Rolling |
Programs That Help Repay Loans You Already Have
Washington borrowers carry an average federal student loan balance of roughly $34,100, according to our Washington student loans and financial aid breakdown. These programs send money toward that debt once you're working in a qualifying job. Compare them against Public Service Loan Forgiveness, since community health centers, public hospitals, and public colleges are also PSLF employers.
Washington Health Corps: State Health Program
The State Health Program pays up to $75,000, capped at your loan balance, to licensed health care providers who work three years full time, or a prorated term of up to five years part time, at an approved site (WSAC Health Corps Reference). It runs on state funds only, and WSAC pays awards in quarterly installments after you verify your service (WSAC Overview). Physicians comparing offers should also read our breakdown of student loan forgiveness for doctors.
| Administered by | Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) |
| Who qualifies | Eligible licensed providers, including physicians, dentists, and certified nurse midwives, working at least 24 hours a week at an approved site such as an FQHC, rural health clinic, critical access hospital, correctional facility, or private practice with at least 40% underserved patients |
| Award | Up to $75,000, not to exceed your loan debt, paid quarterly |
| Commitment | Three years full time (40 hours a week) or a prorated term of up to five years |
| Eligible loans | U.S. federal and commercial education loans; Parent PLUS loans, Primary Care Loans, credit cards, and loans consolidated with personal debt don't qualify |
| Residency | U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible to work in Washington |
| Status | Applications open each January 5 and close March 6; contracts start in July |
| Official source | WSAC Washington Health Corps |
Washington Health Corps: Behavioral Health Program
The Behavioral Health Program uses the same terms as the State Health Program, up to $75,000 for three years of full-time service, for licensed providers such as clinical psychologists, independent clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists (WSAC Program Comparison). Counselors at nonprofit agencies can also work toward PSLF at the same time.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Who qualifies | Licensed behavioral health professionals on WSAC's eligible professions list working at an approved behavioral health site at least 24 hours a week |
| Award | Up to $75,000, not to exceed your loan debt |
| Commitment | Three years full time or a prorated term of up to five years |
| Restrictions | Breaking the contract means repaying the unserved portion or the total paid, whichever is less, plus interest |
| Status | Applications open each January 5 and close March 6 |
| Official source | WSAC Washington Health Corps |
Washington Health Corps: Federal Health Program
The Federal Health Program is Washington's HRSA State Loan Repayment Program, pairing federal funds with state dollars to pay up to $70,000 for two years of full-time service in a federal Health Professional Shortage Area (WSAC Overview). WSAC announced a $2,264,970 HRSA grant on June 4, 2026, matched by $2,235,030 in state funds over three years starting July 1, 2026 (WSAC). Nurses and other providers can compare it with the federal options in our nursing forgiveness roundup.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Who qualifies | Eligible providers at a public or nonprofit site (or a for-profit site run by a nonprofit) in a federal HPSA that offers discounts for low-income patients |
| Award | Up to $70,000, not to exceed your loan debt |
| Commitment | Two years, at least 40 hours a week; no part-time option |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or naturalized citizen |
| Restrictions | Default triggers repayment plus $7,500 per unserved month (minimum $31,000) and interest |
| Status | Applications open each January 5 and close March 6 |
| Official source | WSAC Washington Health Corps |
Nurse Educator Loan Repayment (NELR)
NELR pays up to $75,000, capped at your loan debt, to nurses with a master's, DNP, or PhD in nursing who teach at a nursing program approved by the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (WSAC Nurse Educator Reference). Participants owe three years full time or up to five years part time or adjunct, teaching at least one class each term. Nursing faculty at public colleges can pair it with the options in our graduate school forgiveness breakdown.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Who qualifies | Nurse educators with an advanced nursing degree beyond a bachelor's who teach as faculty in an approved Washington nursing program |
| Award | Up to $75,000, not to exceed your loan debt |
| Commitment | Three years full time, or a prorated term of up to five years for part-time or adjunct faculty |
| Eligible loans | U.S. federal and commercial loans for nursing education; Parent PLUS loans and credit card debt don't qualify |
| Status | Applications open each January 5 and close March 6 |
| Official source | WSAC NELR |
Service-Based Funding For Students In Training
These six programs pay for school up front in exchange for service after graduation. WSAC's teacher scholarships must be repaid with interest and fees if you don't teach, so weigh each one against a private student loan with no strings attached.
Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship
House Bill 1946 funded this scholarship in spring 2025, and WSAC picked 31 graduate students from more than 150 applicants for its first cohort (WSAC). Graduate students in two- to three-year programs can now receive up to $41,000 in total, and recipients owe three to five years at a behavioral health shortage site (WSAC BHCS). Future therapists at nonprofit agencies can later add PSLF on any federal loans.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Who qualifies | Master's students in clinical mental health counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, applied child and adolescent psychology, or counseling psychology at approved schools; undergraduates in Substance Use Disorder Professional certificate programs |
| Award | Up to $41,000 (two- to three-year graduate programs), $15,500 (one-year programs), or $10,000 (certificate students; $5,000 with one year left) |
| Commitment | At least three years, up to five, at an eligible behavioral health shortage site after a six-month licensure grace period |
| Status | 2026-27 applications have closed; WSAC says it will announce the 2027-28 cycle in late 2026 |
| Official source | WSAC Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship |
Teacher Conditional Scholarships
WSAC runs four conditional scholarships for future teachers who commit to a Washington public K-12 school (WSAC Teacher Programs). Each one is forgiven after two full-time school years of teaching per year of aid, or one year per year of aid in a shortage area, and recipients who don't teach repay with interest. Our list of student loan forgiveness options for teachers covers the federal programs that can follow.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Teacher Shortage Conditional Scholarship | Up to $8,000 a year for up to four years for students in a PESB-approved preparation program pursuing a shortage-area endorsement with unmet financial need; the application opens September 28, 2026, for winter 2026-27 awards |
| Alternative Routes Conditional Scholarship | Up to $8,000 a year for up to two years; alternative route providers pick recipients, with no WSAC application |
| Pipeline For Paraeducators Conditional Scholarship | Up to $4,000 a year for up to four years for classified school staff without a degree who earn an associate degree at a community or technical college and pursue teacher certification; rolling applications |
| Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship | Up to $3,000 per endorsement for certified teachers adding a shortage-area endorsement within one academic year; rolling applications |
| Priority | Veterans and National Guard members for all four; the Teacher Shortage scholarship also prioritizes applicants from underrepresented groups |
| Official source | WSAC Teacher Programs |
National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant
Active drilling Washington National Guard members, and eligible spouses and dependents, can receive $2,500 to $6,500 a year depending on the school type, plus up to $500 once for books (WSAC). Recipients owe one year of Guard service for each year of funding. Our breakdown of VA education benefits by state covers the federal benefits Guard members can stack on top.
| Administered by | WSAC |
| Who qualifies | Washington National Guard members in good standing and eligible dependents or spouses with an active DOD ID, attending an accredited Washington school and filing a FAFSA or WASFA |
| Award | $2,500 (community and technical colleges), $3,500 (WGU Washington), $4,500 (applied baccalaureate and regional universities), or $6,500 (research universities and private schools), plus up to $500 for books |
| Commitment | One year of National Guard service per year of funding |
| Status | 2026-27 applications open on a rolling basis while funds last |
| Official source | WSAC National Guard Grant |
Federal Forgiveness Options For Washington Borrowers
Federal programs reach far more Washington borrowers than the 10 state programs, and each one runs on its own rules for combining with a state award. Our full list of forgiveness programs covers every federal option.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Borrowers who make 120 qualifying payments while working full time for a government agency or qualifying nonprofit get their remaining Direct Loan balance forgiven tax-free (StudentAid.gov). Washington public school teachers, state, county, and tribal government employees, and public university staff all work for qualifying employers, and our PSLF breakdown covers the 2026 employer rule litigation.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Teachers with five consecutive years at a low-income school can receive up to $17,500 if they teach secondary math, science, or special education, or up to $5,000 in other subjects (StudentAid.gov). The same years can't count toward both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF, which our teacher forgiveness breakdown walks through.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and IBR. RAP launched July 1, 2026, and forgives any remaining balance after 360 qualifying payments (How RAP Works). Borrowers deciding between plans can run the numbers in our RAP vs. IBR comparison.
Health care programs. Washington runs a HRSA State Loan Repayment Program as the Health Corps Federal Health Program covered above (WSAC). The National Health Service Corps pays full-time primary care providers up to $75,000 for a two-year commitment, or up to $80,000 with a $5,000 Spanish-language bonus (HRSA), and Nurse Corps pays 60% of nursing debt for two years plus another 25% for a third year (HRSA). The STAR program pays up to $250,000 for six years in substance use disorder treatment (HRSA), and our nursing and health care forgiveness roundup covers eligibility for each.
Veterinarians. We found no Washington state veterinary loan repayment program, but the USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program pays up to $25,000 a year for at least three years of service in designated shortage areas (USDA NIFA). Vets carrying private loans should also check our list of private student loan forgiveness options.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxed In Washington?
Washington has no personal income tax, so student loan forgiveness isn't taxed at the state level (The College Investor).
Federal taxes still apply, and forgiveness under income-driven plans became federally taxable again on January 1, 2026, when the American Rescue Plan exclusion expired (Taxes And Student Loan Forgiveness). PSLF and Teacher Loan Forgiveness stay tax-free, and borrowers expecting IBR or RAP forgiveness can estimate the federal bill with our student loan tax bomb calculator.
WSAC points Health Corps participants to IRS Publication 970's section on student loan repayment assistance for federal tax questions (WSAC FAQ). Read our explainer on the 1099-C and student loan forgiveness before filing.
If Your Job Isn't Covered
Borrowers outside health care, teaching, and the National Guard won't find a Washington program, but three options remain. Employers can pay up to $5,250 a year toward your student loans tax-free, and our list of companies that offer student loan repayment assistance shows who offers it.
Borrowers with private loans or high-rate federal loans they don't plan to have forgiven can lower their rate through student loan refinancing. Refinancing federal loans into a private loan ends eligibility for PSLF, RAP, and IBR, so don't refinance a balance you expect to have forgiven.
Families with leftover 529 money can put up to $10,000 per beneficiary toward student loans, which our 529 plan for student loan repayment explainer covers. Washington savers should also review the WA529 Invest plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington Have A Student Loan Forgiveness Program?
Washington offers student loan repayment assistance programs rather than broad loan forgiveness. It runs 10 service-based programs for health care providers, nursing faculty, behavioral health students, future teachers, and National Guard members. Borrowers outside those fields rely on federal programs like PSLF and income-driven plan forgiveness.
What Happened To Washington's Health Professional Loan Repayment Program?
The program now runs as the Washington Health Corps, split into the State Health, Behavioral Health, and Federal Health programs, with awards of up to $75,000 (WSAC). Applications open January 5 and close March 6 each year, and our nursing forgiveness roundup covers the federal programs you can add.
How Much Can Future Washington Teachers Get?
The Teacher Shortage Conditional Scholarship pays up to $8,000 a year for up to four years, and teaching in a shortage area forgives one year of aid per school year taught (WSAC Teacher Programs). Once teaching, you can add federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness or PSLF, both covered in our teacher forgiveness breakdown.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable In Washington?
Washington has no personal income tax, so forgiveness isn't taxed by the state, though income-driven plan forgiveness granted after 2025 is federally taxable (The College Investor). Use our tax bomb calculator to estimate the federal bill.
Related Washington Resources
How We Sourced This Data
Program details on this page come from the Washington Student Achievement Council: its Washington Health Corps reference materials, program comparison, 2026 overview, and FAQ; the 2026 Nurse Educator Loan Repayment reference; its teacher, Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship, and National Guard grant pages; and its June 4, 2026 HRSA grant and October 6, 2025 scholarship announcements. Federal program details come from StudentAid.gov, HRSA, and USDA NIFA. Read more about how we fact-check and update content.
Page refreshed annually in August, after Washington's legislative session and agency rule approvals, and reviewed in January for tax season. Last full refresh: September 23, 2026.
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak