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DHHS Loans

Application Process

Eligibility

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Loan Program is a possible option for MD, DDS, PHARMD, and Nursing students within Health Sciences.

This is a low-interest, subsidized loan. Due to limited funding, these loans are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

These include:

When applying, parental income information is required regardless of federal dependency status. Incomplete information will not be considered.

Additional Requirements

If you are interested in the Loan for Disadvantaged Students, please remember that your parental household income must meet the income requirements in the table below. The chart below indicates the parental adjusted gross income level, based on household size, that is required to be considered for this loan.

Family Size Poverty Guideline
1 $31,300
2 $42,300
3 $53,300
4 $64,300
5 $75,300
6 $86,300

For households with more than 8 persons, add $8,960 for each additional person. These are subject to change each academic year.

  1. Step 1

    Complete and submit the appropriate Loan Inquiry Form for the year and fund you would like to request to let us know you are interested in this funding option and which loan you are interested in. Inquiry forms and additional details for each loan fund is available in each section below.

  2. Step 2

    Create an account on the StudentForms website. This ensures access to your requirements and email notifications to your MIX account when your documents for the next step are added.

    If you have already used this site, you will not need to create the account, and you can skip ahead to Step Three

    StudentForms Account Setup Instructions

  3. Step 3

    Read the DHHS Loan Disclosure for the year you are requesting the loan.

    Loan Disclosures webpage

  4. Step 4

    Once you have been notified, log in to your StudentForms account to complete necessary requirements

    You will receive a notification via your MIX account when the necessary documents are added to your StudentForms account. If you are unsure of your dependency status, you can find more information on the Federal Student Aid website. Dependent students whose FAFSA has not already been verified must also complete verification.

  5. Step 5

    Complete the Promissory Note. If you are awarded after your documents are reviewed, you will receive a notification to your student MIX account from WVU's loan servicer, Heartland ECSI, with additional loan disclosures and instructions on completing your promissory note. Please monitor your MIX account regularly.

Health Professions Loan

The Health Professions Loan’s purpose is to provide additional funds to health professional students in the Dentistry and Pharmacy programs. This loan requires parental information for both independent and dependent students regardless of age or marital status.

Before applying, please calculate your estimated SAI (Student Aid Index) with your parents’ information. You will need to choose “dependent” as your “Student Status”.

Once you have your estimated SAI, please use the link below to submit your application. If you qualify, we will contact you within 5-7 business days with the next steps.

Health Professions Loan Inquiry Form

Repayment Details

  • The Health Professions Loan is a subsidized loan with a 5% simple annual interest rate.
  • There is a twelve-month grace period after the student graduates or drops below full-time enrollment. Repayment of the loan begins immediately after the grace period ends.
  • The minimum monthly payment is $40.00 (unless otherwise specified on the promissory note the student signs), plus accrued interest.
  • The repayment period must not exceed ten years.
  • Cancellation of the loan may be granted in certain circumstances such as death or permanent disability. Cancellation provisions are described in the student's promissory note.
  • Students may request deferment of repayment if they enter military service, the Peace Corps, or pursue advanced professional training.
  • Borrowers may prepay the loan at any time.
  • This loan can be consolidated with a student's Federal Direct Loan. However, once consolidated it becomes an unsubsidized loan and is subject to the repayment terms of the consolidation loan.

Loans for Disadvantaged Students

The Loan for Disadvantaged Students provides financial assistance to students from economically disadvantaged households. To qualify, you must meet income criteria based on current poverty guidelines and submit parental information, regardless of your age or marital status.

Use the link below to check your eligibility. If you qualify, we will contact you via email within 5–7 business days with next steps.

Loan for Disadvantaged Students Inquiry Form

Repayment Details

  • Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) is a subsidized loan with a 5% simple annual interest rate.
  • There is a twelve-month grace period after the student graduates or drops below full-time enrollment. Repayment of the loan begins immediately after the grace period ends.
  • The minimum monthly payment is $40.00 (unless otherwise specified on the promissory note the student signs), plus accrued interest.
  • The repayment period must not exceed ten years.
  • Cancellation of the loan may be granted in certain circumstances such as death or permanent disability. Cancellation provisions are described in the student's promissory note.
  • Students may request deferment of repayment if they enter military service, the Peace Corps, pursue advanced professional training, or pursue a full-time course of study at a health professions school eligible for participation in the Loans for Disadvantaged Students program.
  • Borrowers may prepay the loan at any time.
  • This loan can be consolidated with a student's Federal Direct Loan. However, once consolidated it becomes an unsubsidized loan and is subject to the repayment terms of the consolidation loan.

Nursing Student Loan

The Nursing Student Loan and Graduate Nursing Student Loan are federal loan programs approved under Public Law 100-607. NSL provides limited loan funds to participating institutions. The maximum offer for Nursing Student Loans is $3,300 for any academic year and $5,200 for each of the final two years of study. The interest rate is 5%. No interest accrues during the in school period or during the 9-month grace period following graduation. Preference is given to full time students with “exceptional need.” Interested students must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

Loans are restricted to students who:

  1. are citizens or nationals of the United States,
  2. are enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half time, and
  3. demonstrate financial need by completing the FAFSA

Use the link below to check your eligibility. If you qualify, we will contact you via email within 5–7 business days with next steps.

Nursing Student Loan Inquiry Form

Loan limits:

  • Limit for first two years = $6,189
  • Limit for final two years = $9,736
  • Aggregate Loan limits = $30,527