Primary Care Loans are low-interest (5%), long-term educational loans available to full-time medical students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and who never have borrowed through the Health Professions Student Loan Program. In order to receive the loan and qualify for the most favorable repayment terms, borrowers must agree to enter a residency and practice in primary health care. Primary health care areas are defined by the Department of Health and Human Services as family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, preventive medicine, combined medicine/pediatrics, and osteopathic general practice. The maximum annual program award can range up to the cost of attendance less any other aid.

If you receive a PCL, you will not be required to start repaying it, nor will any interest be charged until 12 months after you cease to be enrolled on a full-time basis as a medical student. Minimum payments will be $40 per month and the 10-year repayment period may be extended to 25 years under certain circumstances. You must have submitted parental data on the FAFSA in order to be considered for this program.