Salve Regina University is trying to chip away at two of health care’s most persistent problems at once — rising education costs for nursing students and a shortage of clinical workers across Rhode Island — through a new partnership that lines up jobs and loan repayment before students ever leave campus.
Since launching the Scholars Network program in the fall of 2025, Salve has had six students accept positions at local health care institutions, representing more than $240,000 in committed loan repayment, with additional offers in process, the university announced Monday. Salve is one of just three universities in Rhode Island, and one of 50 nationally, with a formal partnership with the Scholars Network.
Nursing majors Julianna Webber, Cameron Belair and Nicole Danehy, all seniors, have accepted offers from Southcoast Health. Seniors Madison Hayward and Hailey Maillet, along with first-year student Valeria Parmenidez, have accepted offers from Women & Infants Hospital in Providence.
After they graduate and pass their nursing state board licensure, each will begin a three-year commitment at those facilities, with loan repayment starting immediately. If a scholar leaves the role in fewer than three years, the loan repayment is pro-rated to match their tenure.
“Being accepted into this program and having a position already secured after graduation provides me with an incredible sense of stability and direction as I begin my nursing career,” Belair said. “The student loan forgiveness aspect helps me and my family tremendously, easing a significant financial burden and allowing me to focus more fully on my growth as a nurse.”
Salve’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Nancy Schreiber, said the program is designed to benefit both students and the state’s health care system.
“This program is a distinctive opportunity for our nursing students,” Schreiber said. “Not only can students significantly lower the cost of their education, but once they’re accepted into the network, even if that’s three years away, they know there will be a position waiting for them when they graduate.”
She added that the model helps Rhode Island-native students build careers in their home state while also drawing new talent into the local system from other regions.
The program at Salve is open to undergraduate nursing students and RN-to-BSN students who are not already employed by the participating institutions. Beyond registered nursing, the Scholars Network supports pathways into medical imaging, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, physician assistant roles and pharmacy.
Scholars Network, operated by Noodle, partners with health systems nationwide on recruitment, retention and upskilling of clinical talent. More information is available at scholars-network.com. Information about Salve Regina is at salve.edu.
