Posted on Mar 25, 2025
What is the possibility of getting student loans paid off for a master's degree that is a qualifying degree for a new assession?
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The job I was selected for can be filled by individuals who have a master's or a PhD, the starting rank of the new accession is dependent on which degree they have.
I happen to have both degree types, but the rub is that I took out loans during my master's but not my PhD and would like to see if master's loans are "qualifying".
Does anyone have experience with the possibility of getting loans paid off for this type of situation? The master's degree is technically a "qualifying" degree for some individuals.
I have undergraduate degree loans as well, but I doubt it is possible to finesse those.
I happen to have both degree types, but the rub is that I took out loans during my master's but not my PhD and would like to see if master's loans are "qualifying".
Does anyone have experience with the possibility of getting loans paid off for this type of situation? The master's degree is technically a "qualifying" degree for some individuals.
I have undergraduate degree loans as well, but I doubt it is possible to finesse those.
Army Medical Department Basic Officer Leader Course (AMEDDBOLC)
Loan Officer
Edited 5 d ago
Posted 5 d ago
Responses: 1
Robert, you didn't mention which program you're specifically referring to (Student Loan Repayment program? Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program? Something else?).
The rules about the different programs can be found in AR 621-202*. In GENERAL, for the Health Professional programs, "qualifying loans" are loans for the first degree that qualified the officer for the AOC which they were commissioned. In other words, if a Masters in XXXX was required, then loans from a Doctorate in XXXX wouldn't be qualifying.
As I said, in GENERAL. However, your best answer will come from an AMEDD recruiter as the specific eligibility, AOCs that qualify, amounts, etc. could change.
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* AR 621-202 (Army Educational Incentives and Entitlements) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN31582-AR_621-202-000-WEB-1.pdf
The rules about the different programs can be found in AR 621-202*. In GENERAL, for the Health Professional programs, "qualifying loans" are loans for the first degree that qualified the officer for the AOC which they were commissioned. In other words, if a Masters in XXXX was required, then loans from a Doctorate in XXXX wouldn't be qualifying.
As I said, in GENERAL. However, your best answer will come from an AMEDD recruiter as the specific eligibility, AOCs that qualify, amounts, etc. could change.
---------------------------------------------------------
* AR 621-202 (Army Educational Incentives and Entitlements) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN31582-AR_621-202-000-WEB-1.pdf
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(Join to see)
Hello COL, Thank you once again for your valuable response to a question of mine.
When I originally talked with my recruiter about student loan repayment, I believe we were speaking about the Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP, https://recruiting.army.mil/MRB_MedicalServices/). It seems like this could be such a niche case that perhaps I was given the wrong information about qualifying degree loans, at least that is my hope.
The document you supplied does not have this type of loan listed as section. There is the Regular Army Loan Repayment Program listed, however, I believe this is for enlisted only. I found the section that describes "qualifying degree loans" for the reserve HPLRP, hopefully this is the same rule for the active duty HPLRP. I will get in contact with an AMEDD recruiter and see what they have to say this time.
Thanks again!
When I originally talked with my recruiter about student loan repayment, I believe we were speaking about the Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP, https://recruiting.army.mil/MRB_MedicalServices/). It seems like this could be such a niche case that perhaps I was given the wrong information about qualifying degree loans, at least that is my hope.
The document you supplied does not have this type of loan listed as section. There is the Regular Army Loan Repayment Program listed, however, I believe this is for enlisted only. I found the section that describes "qualifying degree loans" for the reserve HPLRP, hopefully this is the same rule for the active duty HPLRP. I will get in contact with an AMEDD recruiter and see what they have to say this time.
Thanks again!
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COL Randall C.
(Join to see) - Ahhh. The ADHPLRP references is Chapter 4 of AR 601-141*.
All incentive programs can change (especially when funding is a part of it), so there is annual guidance about eligibility, amounts, etc. MILPER 25-208* is the FY25 guidance by The Surgeon General on the ADHPLRP.
Based on the recent conversation we had, I know you don't have your CAC as well as a card reader for home, so I'll extract (non-sensitive) pertinent info for you.
● This big one is that I don't think your AOC is eligible. In a previous post you said that you would be commissioned into the Medical Service Corps as a 71A. According to the MILPER, there are only four AOCs in the MS branch that are eligible:
●●● 67A (70 Series) - Health Services Officer
●●● 67D (73 Series)- Behavior Health Officer
●●● 67J - Aeromedical Evacuation Officer
●●● 72A - Nuclear Science & Engineer Officer
Again, that is for FY25 ... what, if anything, will change for FY26 is unknown however when I looked at the MILPERs for the FY24, FY23 and FY22 programs, the AOC guidance for the MS branch was the same.
Having said that, the guidance says that you can still apply for the program, but that applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Knowing how some of the other incentive programs work, this probably means that the priority of your application would be low and would only be considered if there were less 'eligible' applications than they have funds available for the FY.
Other pertinent info to your question about "what is a qualified loan":
● Qualifying loans are loans used to finance education for the degree required to obtain a commission in the officer’s health profession at time of entry onto active duty.
● Pre-professional (i.e., Associates/Bachelors) degree loans for officers whose Army Health Profession qualifying degree is a Master’s or Doctorate level degree. Loans made for a pre-professional degree (i.e., bachelor’s in chemistry prior to PHD in Microbiology) are not eligible for participation in this program.
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* AR 601-141 (U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship, Financial Assistance, and Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Programs) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r601_141.pdf
* MILPER 25-208 (Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP)) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/Milper/25-028
All incentive programs can change (especially when funding is a part of it), so there is annual guidance about eligibility, amounts, etc. MILPER 25-208* is the FY25 guidance by The Surgeon General on the ADHPLRP.
Based on the recent conversation we had, I know you don't have your CAC as well as a card reader for home, so I'll extract (non-sensitive) pertinent info for you.
● This big one is that I don't think your AOC is eligible. In a previous post you said that you would be commissioned into the Medical Service Corps as a 71A. According to the MILPER, there are only four AOCs in the MS branch that are eligible:
●●● 67A (70 Series) - Health Services Officer
●●● 67D (73 Series)- Behavior Health Officer
●●● 67J - Aeromedical Evacuation Officer
●●● 72A - Nuclear Science & Engineer Officer
Again, that is for FY25 ... what, if anything, will change for FY26 is unknown however when I looked at the MILPERs for the FY24, FY23 and FY22 programs, the AOC guidance for the MS branch was the same.
Having said that, the guidance says that you can still apply for the program, but that applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Knowing how some of the other incentive programs work, this probably means that the priority of your application would be low and would only be considered if there were less 'eligible' applications than they have funds available for the FY.
Other pertinent info to your question about "what is a qualified loan":
● Qualifying loans are loans used to finance education for the degree required to obtain a commission in the officer’s health profession at time of entry onto active duty.
● Pre-professional (i.e., Associates/Bachelors) degree loans for officers whose Army Health Profession qualifying degree is a Master’s or Doctorate level degree. Loans made for a pre-professional degree (i.e., bachelor’s in chemistry prior to PHD in Microbiology) are not eligible for participation in this program.
------------------------------------------------------
* AR 601-141 (U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship, Financial Assistance, and Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Programs) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r601_141.pdf
* MILPER 25-208 (Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP)) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/Milper/25-028
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(Join to see)
Thank you for this information. I wonder if the following sentence from the Medical Service Corps ADHPLRP link could mean that 71A might be a qualified AOC:
"Fully qualified applicants for all Medical Service Area of Concentration (AOC) and The Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) applicants are authorized ADHPLRP."
I just got off the phone with an AMEDD recruiter and explained the situation and it looks like I might be in a qualified AOC and that my Masters Loans would be the qualifying degree loans. Wow, if this works out this is incredible news.
I cannot thank you enough, and I will provide an update.
"Fully qualified applicants for all Medical Service Area of Concentration (AOC) and The Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) applicants are authorized ADHPLRP."
I just got off the phone with an AMEDD recruiter and explained the situation and it looks like I might be in a qualified AOC and that my Masters Loans would be the qualifying degree loans. Wow, if this works out this is incredible news.
I cannot thank you enough, and I will provide an update.
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