Listen to this article

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority hopes to help boost the number of nursing educators – and, in turn, practicing professionals – by expanding its Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program. 

The goal of the program, according to an April 3 announcement, is to help alleviate the Garden State’s nurse shortage by incentivizing professionals to teach the next generation. 

According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, New Jersey stands among the top 10 states with the largest projected nursing shortage for 2035.

The program previously was available only to full-time faculty who were hired within a year of completing their approved graduate program on or after July 1, 2010. The expanded program is now open to professionals teaching three or more credits, regardless of when they were hired or earned their degree. 

Faculty with degrees from an approved graduate degree program can receive up to $10,000 in student loan redemption per year in exchange for teaching nursing courses at one or more eligible higher education institutions in the Garden State for up to five years, for a maximum total of $50,000. 

A total of $1.625 million is available for this round of the program. The application period is open through April 30, 2025. 

Details of the expanded program include: 

• Up to $10,000 per year for full-time faculty (teaching 24 or more credits) 
• Up to $8,000 per year for part-time faculty (teaching 18 to 23 credits) 
• Up to $5,000 per year for part-time faculty (teaching thee to 17 credits) 
• Must be a resident of New Jersey 
• Must hold a valid New Jersey Registered Nursing License or New Jersey Nurse Licensure Compact  
• Must submit all required documents with the application
• Complete eligibility requirements are available here 

“Nurses play an essential role in the health care ecosystem, assisting countless patients every single day,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “The expanded Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program will encourage more nurses to train future cohorts of professionals who can help shore up our state’s nursing workforce.” 

HESAA Executive Director Margo Chaly said the expanded program is “making it more affordable for professionals to share their expertise in the classroom, even if they are only able to do so on a part-time basis.” 

“Ensuring that an ample number of qualified educators are available to teach nursing students is one way we are working to alleviate the ongoing nursing shortage facing our state,” Chaly added. 

Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, D-6th District, sponsored the legislation to expand the program.