Penn Medicine announced the launch of a student loan assistance program for new health care hires earlier this month.
The Penn Medicine Scholars Program allows students enrolled in a range of health care programs to commit to three years of employment at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in exchange for $30,000 to $105,000 in loan repayment. The initiative comes from a partnership with Scholars Network — an organization that connects students with employers — “to help build the healthcare workforce of the future,” according to a June 9 press release.
Shawn Clark — the Health System’s director of workforce development programs and partnerships — explained that Penn Med’s decision to join the initiative was “in keeping with the rest of the industry and what the workforce is asking for,” particularly in the context of “our current government stance on loan forgiveness” and wider discussions about loan repayment.
“It’s the right thing to do: to join that initiative and offer as a recruiting benefit the option to have student loan repayment offered to students in key, hard-to-fill, and critical positions,” Clark told The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Scholars Network founder and Senior Vice President Sam Maron wrote to the DP that the organization gives students “a chance to engage with their future employer long before graduation” and reduces financial burdens, allowing them to “focus on learning.”
Since its gradual rollout in October 2025, the program has hired four certified registered nurse anesthetists, four respiratory therapists, and three registered nurses, Clark said. Pharmacists and physician’s assistants are also eligible for the loan repayment offerings, which are supported in part by state grants.
Depending on the position, interested students apply between their second and final year of school, submitting a resume, personal statement, transcript, and an introduction video. Accepted applicants are guaranteed a spot at Penn Med upon completion of their studies.
In light of Penn Med’s workforce needs, Clark characterized the loan repayment program as a “talent acquisition tool,” including recruitment of ideal nurses, who would not traditionally be offered a sign-on bonus. He pointed to employment projections showing rising demand or workforce growth for some of the chosen disciplines.
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Maron additionally noted that, as health systems can face “extremely expensive” staffing turnover, loan-repayment schemes can serve as “a more sustainable incentive for employers to offer.”
“For employers, the benefit is largely about solving a workforce problem”, Maron wrote. “A well-designed loan repayment offering helps employers not only recruit and retain candidates, but also to drive cost savings.”
Clark said that the program could be expanded to more positions in the future.
“We’re looking to grow and consider where this can be utilized more effectively,” he said.
While highlighting that health care remains the “core” of Scholars Network’s work, Maron wrote that employers in other fields could implement a similar model to attract talent.
The program’s establishment comes as higher education costs continue to rise. In March, Penn administrators announced that the total cost of undergraduate attendance will be $94,582 for the 2026-27 academic year.
