2026 Edition — American Canadian School of Medicine
Every available program for U.S. citizen graduates of Caribbean medical schools. Eligibility is based on your citizenship, licensure, and practice location — not your school's LCME status. 20+ programs identified, over $1.5M in documented repayment opportunities.
Eight distinct federal programs are available to licensed U.S. citizen physicians. Eligibility is based on citizenship and licensure — school of origin is never a criterion. ACSOM graduates qualify on equal footing with LCME graduates for all programs below.
Every U.S. state and territory operates at least one loan repayment program. These require U.S. citizenship and state licensure only — school of origin is never evaluated. Most accept both federal and private loans.
| State | Program | Max Award | Commitment | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | MSLRP | $300,000 | 2-yr contracts, nonprofit HPSA, 40 hrs/wk | Tax-free. Employer contributes 20% (nonprofit) or 50% (for-profit). FM, IM, Peds, OB/GYN, Psych. |
| Iowa | Rural Iowa Primary Loan Repayment | $200,000 | Up to 5 years, rural practice | One of the highest state awards. Rural focus. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Medical LRP | $160,000 | 4 years, rural/underserved | $25K yr1 to $55K yr4. Strong graduation incentive. |
| Georgia | GBHCW GPELRP | $150,000 | 4 years full-time, rural county <50K pop | Service-cancelable loan. New cycle Aug 2026. |
| Georgia | Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance (PRAA) | $100,000 | 2-yr commitment, rural underserved | $25K/yr, max $100K. Separate from GPELRP. |
| California | Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps LRP | $105,000 | 3 years, underserved community | Renewable. Strong program for urban underserved. |
| California | CA State LRP | $50,000 | 2 years, HPSA site | Renewable: $20K/yr renewal, then $10K/yr. |
| California | LA Care Physician LRP | $300,000 | 5 years, Medi-Cal network | Employer-based. Highest CA potential ($5K/mo × 5 yrs). |
| Nebraska | NE Primary Health Care LRP | $60,000/yr | 2 years, shortage area | Very competitive per-year rate. |
| Montana | MT Rural Physician Incentive (MRPIP) | $150,000 | 6-month increments, up to 5 years | $10K at 6 mos to $20K at 60 mos. Rural only. |
| Kansas | KS State LRP | $95,000 | Primary care, HPSA site | Physician shortage area required. |
| Minnesota | Rural Physician LRP | $120,000+ | Rural shortage area | Strong rural repayment track. |
| Minnesota | Urban Physician LRP | $116,000 | 3-4 yrs, urban underserved HPSA | Unique urban track. FM, IM, Peds, OB/GYN, Psych. |
| Minnesota | MN State LRP (HPSA) | $40,000 | 2 yrs full-time or 4 yrs part-time | Standard HPSA program. |
| Idaho | Rural Physician Incentive (RPIP) | $100,000 | 4 years primary care, rural HPSA | FM, IM, Peds, OB/GYN, Psych, Gen Surg, EM. |
| Texas | TX Primary Care Innovation Grant LRP | $120,000+ | 4 years, HPSA site | U.S. citizen or LPR. TX Medical Board license required. |
| Kentucky | KY State LRP | $70,000 | 2 years, HPSA | Standard state program. |
| Washington DC | DC Health LRP | Varies | 2-3 years, HPSA | Available in shortage areas within DC. |
| Hawaii | HI State LRP | Varies | 2 years, nonprofit HPSA | FM, IM, Peds, Psych, OB/GYN, Geriatrics. |
| Missouri | MO Health Prof. State LRP | $50,000 | 2 years, underserved area | Standard program. |
| All 50 States + DC | NHSC State LRP (via HRSA grants) | $25K-$75K typical | 2 years, full-time HPSA | Every state eligible. Apply through your state Primary Care Office. |
All three military branches offer physician loan repayment. These programs require military commission and active duty service. For physicians committed to serving, military service eliminates loan debt while providing salary, housing, full benefits, and pension.
Negotiated directly with employers or through specialty-specific programs. These stack on top of federal and state programs for maximum payoff.
During residency your income is low (~$60-70K) but your loan balance is large. IDR plans keep monthly payments near zero while training years count toward PSLF or long-term forgiveness.
Your loan is a private institutional loan — it is NOT eligible for federal IDR, PSLF, or income-driven forgiveness. However, it IS explicitly eligible as a "qualifying educational loan" under NHSC LRP, NHSC Rural Community LRP, NHSC SUD Workforce LRP, STAR LRP, VA LRP, IHS LRP, and all state LRP programs. Strategy: use IDR/PSLF for any federal loans you may carry; use NHSC/state/military/employer awards to directly retire the balance. Do not consolidate your loan with federal loans — keep them entirely separate.
Most programs can be stacked simultaneously. A single physician in the right setting can activate four to five programs at once. Below are two real-world scenarios demonstrating full debt elimination.
A timeline of actions from year one through graduation, residency, and first attending position to maximize repayment program access.
ACSOM directly reduces your debt burden through scholarships, merit awards, and an institutional private lending partnership — designed specifically for the post-Grad-PLUS environment.
ACSOM's primary financing vehicle — a private institutional loan that closely mirrors the former federal Grad PLUS structure: competitive interest rates, medical-school-specific terms, and deferment options during residency and fellowship. Eligible for repayment under all NHSC LRP, state LRP, STAR LRP, VA LRP, IHS LRP, military, and employer programs in this guide. Not eligible for federal PSLF or IDR.
Awarded at admission and renewable annually based on academic performance. Directly reduces tuition owed before your first loan disbursement. Contact Financial Aid for current scholarship tiers and renewal requirements.
Semester-based and monthly payment arrangements available. Contact Student Accounts to discuss options that reduce the total amount you need to borrow over your four years.
One-on-one sessions to map your four-year borrowing strategy and post-graduation repayment plan, including which programs to apply to in which order based on your target specialty and practice location.
Every admitted student receives a personal call from ACSOM leadership to discuss the full financial pathway, scholarship opportunities, and their personalized road to residency.
For loan queries, tuition payment arrangements, and semester billing — contact Financial Aid or Student Accounts on the ACSOM campus in Dominica. Direct: +1-800-418-0424.
General Information Only — Not Financial, Legal, or Tax Advice. This guide is provided by the American Canadian School of Medicine (ACSOM) for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this document constitutes financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or a guarantee of eligibility for any program described. Individual eligibility depends on factors that vary by person, specialty, state of licensure, employer, loan type, HPSA designation, and annual program funding. Consult with a licensed financial advisor, certified student loan counselor (CSLP), and/or qualified attorney before making financial decisions.
Program Information Is Subject to Change. All program details, award amounts, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and funding availability reflect publicly available information as of April 2026. Federal and state programs are subject to annual reauthorization, Congressional action, regulatory revision, executive action, and budget appropriations. Always verify current requirements directly with the administering agency before applying.
Private Loan Disclosure. ACSOM's institutional lending partnership with lenders provides private student loans. These are NOT federal loans and do not carry federal borrower protections, nor are they eligible for federal IDR plans, PSLF, or federal loan forgiveness programs. They ARE eligible as "qualifying educational loans" under NHSC, state, VA, IHS, military, and many employer repayment programs. ACSOM does not guarantee loan approval.
PSLF — Federal Loans Only. Public Service Loan Forgiveness applies only to federal Direct Loans. Private loans, including ACSOM's institutional loans, do not qualify for PSLF. Do not refinance federal loans to private loans if pursuing PSLF — this permanently disqualifies those loans from forgiveness.
No Guarantee of Residency Match, Licensure, or Professional Outcomes. All loan repayment programs require completion of a U.S. residency and state licensure. ACSOM does not guarantee residency placement, USMLE passage, state licensure, board certification, or employment.
ACSOM is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHSC, HRSA, the U.S. Department of Education, the VA, IHS, NIH, any state government agency, any military branch. Tax treatment of awards varies — consult a qualified tax professional. Some federal programs cannot be held simultaneously; always verify stacking rules with each program's administering agency.
© 2026 American Canadian School of Medicine. All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced for prospective student informational use only. Commercial redistribution is prohibited. Questions: financialaid@acsom.edu.dm