World class care. Close to home. UM Health-Sparrow brings the latest research and treatments to all of Mid-Michigan.
The UMH-Sparrow Scholars program offers current pre-licensure nursing students and respiratory therapists the opportunity to secure employment at UM Health-Sparrow Hospital prior to graduation - with the added bonus of significant reduction or elimination of student loan debt.
Through this program, UM Health-Sparrow provides you up to $40,000 in loan repayment in exchange for a three year, full-time work commitment at upon graduation, licensure, and beginning full-time work as a registered nurse or respiratory therapist.
Are you a current or prospective student?
Secure up to $40,000
How it Works
Complete Your Application
Applications are simple and streamlined. Advisors are available to support you at each step along the way.
Get Selected by UM Health-Sparrow
If you are accepted, UM Health-Sparrow will make monthly payments on your loans over a set number of months.
Start Your Journey
Start strong in your career with extra support from colleagues and leadership.
Select Your Journey
Registered Nurse
Loan Repayment:
$40,000 over 3 year commitment
Eligibility:
- Be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.3
- Be enrolled in an accredited pre-licensure registered nursing program
- Be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or with residency under DACA or TPS programs
Application Materials:
- Short written essay
- Brief video personal statement
- Unofficial transcript
Respiratory Therapist
Loan Repayment:
$40,000 over a 3 year commitment
Eligibility:
- Be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0
- Be enrolled in an accredited prelicensure respiratory therapy program
- Be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or with residency under DACA or TPS programs
Application Materials:
- Short written essay
- Brief video personal statement
- Unofficial transcript
- Note: this program is applicable for those interested in working in outpatient or inpatient pharmacy roles
Step by Step: Completing Your Application
Life happens. If plans change, you won’t owe anything to your employer.
About UM Health-Sparrow
As the largest care network in Mid-Michigan, UM Health-Sparrow operates over 150 sites of care, including the region’s only Level I Trauma Center and its top-ranked hospital for quality and safety. Now a part of University of Michigan Health, the system combines world-class academic expertise with community-centered service, delivering 3,300 babies and managing 90,000 urgent care visits annually across Lansing and surrounding rural communities.
“Being able to complete my degree knowing I have a job secured after graduation and without the burden of increasing student loan debt is truly amazing. College is much less stressful now that I can dedicate my time to studying rather than working to pay for college. This experience has been such a blessing and played a huge part in my ability to become a registered nurse!”
“As a nursing student, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to not only enter a profession that I am so passionate about but also to do so with the sense of security and purpose thanks to the incredible support from the program. For me, this program has truly been a life changer. It has provided me with a unique opportunity to enter the nursing profession, not with just excitement and enthusiasm, but with a sense of financial peace.”
“Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to be at ease about my school loans and grants me a bit of financial freedom! What excites me most about this opportunity is the sense of feeling truly integrated into the fabric of WellSpan. It enables me to build stronger connections and enhances my credibility when presenting future quality improvement ideas.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Your salary and benefits will be competitive and on par with your peers. They will not be affected by participation in the program, as this is meant to be an added benefit. To find out more about sign-on or relocation bonus eligibility, you may request information or start an application and an advisor will be in touch.
You can voluntarily choose to leave the program at any time. If you do so before completing your work commitment, you forfeit any further loan repayments made by the health system but are not required to reimburse any payments already made on your behalf. Similarly, if you involuntarily leave the program at any time by violating the terms of your employment, you forfeit any further loan repayments made on your behalf.
You may be subject to income tax for some or all of the loan payments made by the Scholars Network Program on your behalf. You should consult with a tax professional if you have any questions regarding the tax implications of the Scholars Network Program.
No. To be accepted, you must successfully complete each of the above application requirements set by the employer and be selected by the employer.
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