Closed - 2026 application cycle ended October 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT; monitor Minnesota Department of Health for future cycle announcements.Atlas Opportunity Score 82/100
Minnesota Hospital Registered Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program — 2026 Cycle
Minnesota's 2026 Hospital Registered Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program offers eligible RNs working in direct patient care at nonprofit or public hospitals up to $12,000 over two years. Applications are due October 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Funding$6,000 per year in qualified educational loan repayment, up to $12,000 total over two years or the remaining eligible loan balance, whichever is less.
DeadlineOctober 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT
Last verifiedOctober 6, 2026
Required next actionConfirm the applicant is a licensed Minnesota RN, or will be licensed and working by March following the application deadline, has at least $6,000 in eligible educational debt, and will provide direct patient care at least 30 hours per week for at least 45 weeks per year at a Minnesota nonprofit or public hospital. Submit the individual application through the MDH Online Grants Portal by October 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Broad Eligibility
Eligible applicants are licensed registered nurses, including current nursing students who will be licensed and working by March following the application deadline, who have at least $6,000 in eligible educational debt and will work in direct patient care at a Minnesota nonprofit or public hospital. Participants must provide at least 30 direct-patient-care hours per week for at least 45 weeks per year and complete a two-year service obligation. Outpatient surgical centers and hospital-associated clinics are not eligible service sites, and telehealth work does not count toward the service obligation.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score 82/100. This Minnesota Department of Health program supports individual registered nurses who commit to a two-year direct-patient-care service obligation at a Minnesota nonprofit or public hospital. The current cycle is open through October 6, 2026. The benefit is awarded to eligible individuals rather than hospital employers.
Opportunity Overview
The Minnesota Hospital Registered Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program is a workforce-retention benefit for registered nurses who provide direct patient care at eligible Minnesota nonprofit or public hospitals. The 2026 application cycle is open now.
Award and Deadline
Selected participants may receive $6,000 per year in qualified educational loan repayment for up to two years, for a maximum of $12,000 or the remaining eligible loan balance, whichever is less. Applications are due October 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time.
Who Is Eligible
Applicants must be licensed registered nurses, including current nursing students who will be licensed and working by March following the application deadline. Participants must have at least $6,000 in eligible educational debt and provide direct patient care for at least 30 hours per week and 45 weeks per year at a Minnesota nonprofit or public hospital.
Service Obligation
The minimum service commitment is two years. Outpatient surgical centers and clinics associated with hospitals are not eligible service sites. Minnesota also states that telehealth work does not count toward the required direct-patient-care service obligation.
N9+ / Dr. Miltie Strategic Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. This is useful workforce intelligence for nonprofit and public hospitals competing to recruit and retain bedside nurses.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. Awards are paid as individual educational loan repayment and cannot be used as an organizational technology or equipment budget. Atlas should not generate applicant-entity product outreach around this program.
Application Strategy
Applicants should verify licensure timing, eligible debt, hospital service-site status, and the required direct-patient-care schedule; assemble the current MDH application materials and educational-loan documentation; and submit through the Online Grants Portal before the October 6 cutoff.
Verified source: Minnesota Department of Health Hospital Registered Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program page, last updated August 7, 2026 and rechecked September 1, 2026.
Source verificationOfficial government source · www.health.mn.govAtlas last verified this record October 6, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
