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Medical (WWAMI)


The WWAMI loan provides education funding for students selected to be in the WWAMI medical education program.

WWAMI is the University of Washington School of Medicine’s medical education program only available to students in one of the five participating states. If you are interested in becoming a WWAMI student, please contact the University of Alaska Anchorage and speak with the Pre-Health Guidance Coordinator (contact information below).

Students selected to participate in the WWAMI program as an Alaskan student will receive a WWAMI loan through ACPE and may be eligible for up to 100% forgiveness if they return to Alaska and are employed as a physician.




  1. Apply to the WWAMI Program at the University of Washington School of Medicine. For more information on eligibility requirements and the application process, visit the WWAMI website
  2. ACPE will provide all WWAMI students with a Master Promissory Note (MPN). WWAMI students must sign and return the MPN.
  3. You're done!

Whom should Alaskans contact if they are interested in information about the WWAMI program?


Students interested in entering medical, school may schedule a meeting for pre-health professions guidance through the WWAMI School of Medical Education at UAA by contacting the Pre-Health Guidance Coordinator:


Alida van Almelo
Pre-Health Professions Guidance Coordinator
UAA WWAMI School of Medical Education
3211 Providence Drive, HSB 301
Anchorage, AK 99508
Email: arvanalmelo@alaska.edu 
 

Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss course schedules, preparation for entrance exams, completion of applications, coordination of letters of recommendation, and other topics applicable to the development of a suitable undergraduate program and effective applications to professional schools.

For more information, visit the Health Professions Advising website.


What is my financial obligation for the WWAMI Program?


The loan obligation for a WWAMI student is equal to 50% of the annual support fee paid by the state, plus interest. Since there is no support fee paid for the first year of the WWAMI program, students will not be required to repay any obligation for that year. By signing the WWAMI Medical Education Loan Program MPN, participants will have a repayment obligation for their second, third and fourth years of medical school support fees. An annual Notification of Award letter will be sent to participants advising them of the amount of their financial obligation for the related program year.

Is there forgiveness on a WWAMI participant's loan?

A student who successfully completes the WWAMI program and is employed within Alaska in a qualifying professional medical practice may be eligible for forgiveness on their WWAMI loan. Individuals that are completing their residency program in the state may also be eligible for forgiveness. WWAMI loans are eligible to have the outstanding principal and accrued interest forgiven and considered a grant in accordance with the following percentages:

A. for employment in rural areas of the state, up to three years of employment, 33.33% for each year;

B. for employment in areas of the state that do not qualify under the program definition as rural, up to five years of employment, 20% for each year

Participants must contact ACPE once they are working full-time as a physician in Alaska. ACPE will provide the necessary forms to document the periods of employment that qualify the student for forgiveness.

 

For More Information, see WWAMI Frequently Asked Questions

  • 6.75% (4.47% APR) fixed interest rate
  • No origination fee
  • No credit check
  • Eligible for up to 100% forgiveness if you return to Alaska and are employed as a physician in a professional medical practice

The above rates and benefits are for the 2023-2024 academic year, effective July 1, 2023.


  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and an Alaska resident for at least two consecutive years at the time of application in order to obtain residency certification.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
  • Be accepted to the WWAMI Medical Education Program

How are new participants selected for participation in the WWAMI program?

Each year the Alaska WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) and the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) Admissions Committees work together to interview and select 20 Alaskans for the program. The Alaska WWAMI office at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) certifies an applicant's eligibility for the program based on responses to an Eligibility Questionnaire. Once an Alaska applicant is admitted, ACPE is prompted to send the individual the WWAMI  Master Promissory Note (MPN) and a related cover letter. Individuals who accept the offers of admission must sign the MPN and return it to ACPE prior to beginning their program of study.

 


The WWAMI loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.75% (4.47% APR) in-school and in repayment. This means the base interest rate of 6.75% is not subject to change.


What is APR?

APR stands for the Annual Percentage Rate and is the yearly cost of borrowing your loan, shown as a percent of the amount you borrowed. The APR referenced above is only an example and assumes a principal loan amount of $10,000, for a 4-year student with repayment beginning after a six-month grace period. The loan repayment term is 15 years.


Fees

There are no origination or prepayment fees on the WWAMI loan.