WSAC receives $2.3 million federal grant to support Washington healthcare workers

(OLYMPIA)- The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has been awarded a $2,264,970 grant over the next three years by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration. Washington State will match this funding, bringing the total to $4.5 million. These funds will help qualified healthcare providers in Washington pay off their student loans, according to a news release from WSAC.

Healthcare providers who earn a degree through a graduate program are typically saddled with $100,000 in student loans. For those who earn a professional program degree, that figure jumps to $200,000.

The Washington Health Corps (WHC), a loan-repayment program managed by WSAC, has seen the number of applicants nearly double from 380 in 2020 to over 700 in 2025 (WHC Evaluation Findings (PDF)). WHC helps Washington attract and retain licensed health professionals to serve in critical shortage areas. Healthcare providers in various clinical settings can apply. In return for loan repayment, participants commit to serving in communities with healthcare shortages for a set period.

“This grant supports more than funding,” said Isaac Kwakye, deputy executive director of WSAC. “It invests in the nurses, dentists, behavioral health counselors and physicians who keep Washington’s communities healthy. Many of these health providers begin their careers with significant student debt. Through this federal investment and our state match, we can help recruit and retain providers in the rural and underserved communities that need them most.”

WSAC has received this grant in the past, but the most recent grant expired in July 2025. The new grant will be awarded beginning July 1, 2026, providing $754,990 in each of the next three years.

This matching grant will help Washington attract and support qualified health providers across the state.