Teaching Nurses Pays Off: Up to 85% loan forgiveness for future nurse faculty!

Graduate school can be an exciting step toward new career opportunities in nursing, but it often comes with a heavy financial burden. For many students who dream of inspiring and educating future nurses, the cost of advanced degrees can be a significant barrier. At the College of Nursing, the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) is helping to break down that barrier, opening the door for students who want to teach and shaping the future of nursing education.

The NFLP, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), offers tuition support to PhD and DNP students pursuing a career as a nursing faculty member. In return, graduates who step into teaching roles can receive loan forgiveness of up to85 percent after four years of full-time work at an accredited nursing program. Nurses who serve as clinical preceptors, guiding and mentoring students during their hands-on training, may also qualify through academic-practice partnerships. In this way, the NFLP not only helps students in need but also supports those who want to teach and give back to the nursing community, creating a cycle that strengthens the future nursing workforce.

“The Nurse Faculty Loan Program has been a cornerstone in addressing one of the most pressing challenges in nursing today, the shortage of qualified faculty,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing. “By investing in our students and supporting their transition into educator roles, we are not only transforming individual careers but also ensuring that future generations of nurses receive the high-quality education they deserve.”

For nearly two decades, the College of Nursing has proudly partnered with HRSA to administer the NFLP. As one of the first schools to receive funding in 2005, the college has since supported 264 students on their path to becoming faculty. The program is open to nurses in the PhD and DNP tracks, offering a combination of financial assistance with coursework in nursing education and a teaching practicum. Leadership of the program has been a hallmark of its success, beginning with founding director Sally Reel, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, followed by Mary Koithan, PhD, CNS-BC, FAAN, and later Kathleen Insel, PhD, RN. Their guidance established a strong foundation for the program, which continues today under the direction of Sheila Gephart, PhD, RN, FAAN, who assumed the role in July 2025. Currently, 25 students are enrolled in the program, including one dual DNP-PhD student and 24 PhD students.

For PhD student Ashley Artis, who joined the NFLP in the fall of 2024, the program has been life-changing. “The Nurse Faculty Loan Program has been a tremendous support in my journey toward becoming a nurse scholar,” Artis said. “It has allowed me to pursue advanced education without the overwhelming burden of debt, giving me the freedom to focus on my research and future teaching career. This program not only makes graduate education possible but also encourages nurses like me to step into faculty roles that are so urgently needed. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities NFLP has created for my professional growth and for the future of nursing.” 

Stories like Ashley’s highlight how the NFLP is more than just financial aid. It’s a strategic investment in addressing one of health care’s most significant challenges: the shortage of nursing faculty. Without enough educators, nursing programs can’t expand, which limits the number of new nurses entering the field. By helping students transition into faculty roles, the NFLP ensures that classrooms remain open, programs continue to grow, and communities have access to the nurses they urgently need. 

That impact is evident at the College of Nursing and beyond. Alumni of the program are working in classrooms, labs, and clinics across the country, including right here in Arizona, where many now serve as nursing faculty. Their contributions help address the state’s nursing shortage while also fostering innovation in research, teaching, and patient care. 

One such alum is Katherine Dudding, PhD, RN, RNC-NIC, CNE. “The Nursing Faculty Loan Program at the University of Arizona was instrumental in supporting my PhD journey by providing essential financial assistance,” she shared. “Thanks to the NFLP, I was able to focus fully on my studies, complete my degree on time, and pursue my academic goals without financial stress. I would not be serving today as an assistant professor at the University of Alabama, researching ways to detect pain in premature infants, without the support of this program. I am deeply grateful.”

Dudding’s story illustrates the power of the NFLP to not only support individual student success but also to advance the College’s mission of preparing nurse leaders who are shaping the future of health care, as today’s students grow into tomorrow’s educators. Together, these students and alumni show how lifting financial barriers creates teaching opportunities, fuels innovation in nursing education, and ensures a stronger nursing workforce for years to come.

For more information about this program, contact Sheila Gephart at gepharts@arizona.edu.