In exchange for working in rural areas with a shortage of veterinarians to treat food animals, 48 veterinarians will share in $4.3 million to retire part of their veterinary college loans, said USDA. The awards, made through a loan repayment program, will bring additional veterinarians to 27 states.
Recipients commit to practicing for three years in a designated veterinary shortage area and the award can be used only to retire loans tied to vet school enrollment. The average debt for a veterinary school graduate is $135,000.
This was the fourth year that USDA made awards under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. There were 187 applicants. Of the 48 winners, 38 were first-time awards and 10 were renewals, said USDA.