Many employers and government organizations offer valuable benefits like tuition reimbursement, tuition remission or loan repayment, which can cover the cost of eligible coursework and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. These programs can be a smart way to help finance your education while gaining professional experience. Keep in mind that they often include required work commitments, so it’s important to research the terms and expectations carefully in advance.
Both tuition reimbursement, tuition remission and loan repayment programs can help reduce the cost of your education, but they work in different ways.
Tuition Reimbursement
- When it helps: While you are enrolled in school.
- How it works: You pay out-of-pocket and an employer reimburses all or part of your tuition costs, often after you successfully complete your coursework.
- Benefit: Reduces the amount you need to pay or borrow through student loans.
- Example: Your employer reimburses $5,000 of your pharmacy school tuition after you complete a semester with a qualifying grade.
Tuition Remission
- When it helps: Before or while you are enrolled in school.
- How it works: A college, university, or employer-sponsored educational institution waives all or part of your tuition charges, so you pay a reduced amount or nothing at all upfront.
- Benefit: Lowers or eliminates tuition costs without requiring you to pay first and wait for reimbursement.
- Example: As an employee of a university, you receive tuition remission that covers 100% of your tuition for an eligible degree program, reducing your educational expenses immediately.
Loan Repayment
- When it helps: After you graduate and have student loan debt.
- How it works: An employer, government agency, or service program makes payments toward your existing student loans.
- Benefit: Helps reduce or eliminate debt you've already borrowed.
- Example: A healthcare employer provides $10,000 per year toward your student loans in exchange for working in a high-need area.
State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
The State Loan Repayment Program provides cost-sharing grants to states and territories to operate their own loan repayment programs. These programs offer loan repayment to primary medical, mental/behavioral, and dental healthcare clinicians working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA).
The Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)–Veterans Health Administration
Eligible VA pharmacy positions may offer up to $40,000 per year (up to $200,000 total) in tax-free student loan repayment through the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Availability is position-specific and included in the job offer if offered as a recruitment or retention incentive.
Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
The Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program (LRP) offers up to $50,000 in student loan repayment for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who commit to serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities for at least two years. Eligible applicants may apply in their final year of training and must provide proof of licensure before receiving an award.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs)
The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) offer up to $50,000 per year toward qualified student loan debt for graduates who commit to conducting NIH mission-relevant research at least 20 hours per week. Awards are granted in two-year contracts, with the potential to renew, and payments are applied quarterly to eligible loans.
Health Professions Scholarship Program (ROTC-HPSP) - Cooperative Pharmacy Program
The Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers 5–6 years of financial assistance for pharmacy education, with graduates commissioning as Officers and committing to active duty service. Interested students should connect with an Army Medical (AMEDD) recruiter to determine eligibility.
Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program
The Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program provides up to $40,000 per year (minus taxes) in student loan repayment, with potential financial assistance of up to $134,600 during residency. Eligibility requires being a commissioned officer (or final-year Pharm.D. student) in a Navy-identified health profession shortage area.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
The NHSC Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Loan Repayment Program offers up to $100,000 for full-time service (or $50,000 for part-time) to pharmacists working at approved rural SUD treatment facilities, with additional awards for Spanish-language proficiency. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship, a pharmacy license, qualified student loans, and placement at an NHSC-approved site.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
The NHSC SUD Low-Income or Low-HPSA Loan Repayment Program provides up to $75,000 for full-time pharmacists (or $37,500 part-time) serving three years at approved SUD treatment facilities, with extra awards for Spanish-language proficiency. Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens, licensed pharmacists, hold qualifying student loans, and work at NHSC-approved sites.
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Faculty Loan Repayment Program
The NHSC Faculty Loan Repayment Program offers up to $40,000 in student loan repayment for pharmacists from disadvantaged backgrounds who hold a health professions degree and teach at an approved health professions school with a two-year (or longer) contract. The program also provides funds to help offset the associated tax burden.
CVS Health
PharmD Tuition Assistance Program
This program offers CVS Health Retail Pharmacy Interns, in their final two professional years of their Doctor of Pharmacy degree, up to $20,000 of tuition reimbursement per school year.
Enterprise Tuition Assistance Program
CVS Health offers reimbursement up to $3,000 for job-related degree programs. Covered expenses include tuition, books, and mandatory course-related fees. Full-time colleagues are eligible on the first day of the month following their start date and part-time colleagues are eligible after 90 days of service.
Through partnerships with AACP and select institutions, CVS Health is also able to offer reduced tuition opportunities for students interested in pharmacy.
Walgreens
PharmStart
A first‑of‑its‑kind partnership with Guild, the leading talent development company, launched April 23, 2025, offering fully funded online prerequisite courses for current eligible pharmacy technicians and frontline employees, covering all costs and providing personalized academic and career coaching.
Walgreens 401(k) & Student‑Loan Match Program
Even if you're paying down student loans, Walgreens’ retirement plan treats a portion of those payments as 401(k) contributions, helping you secure full matching while building your nest egg.
Walgreens Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program (PEAP)
Eligible team members can receive up to $40,000 in tuition assistance to pursue their PharmD or similar pharmacy-related education.
Questions? Reach out to JoinOurStores@walgreens.com. -