The New Mexico Higher Education Department announced it awarded thousands of dollars in student loan relief to eight veterinarians through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which was established during the 2025 legislative session.
The program provides up to $80,000 in financial assistance to veterinarians who commit to practicing in rural areas and providing food animal care for at least four years.
The program is designed to address critical shortages of food animal veterinarians in New Mexico, supporting the care of livestock raised for food, including cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. The department said the program also helps protect the state’s agricultural industry and directly supports rural, frontier and tribal communities.
According to the department, many rural and frontier areas face significant challenges in accessing veterinary care, which can directly affect the health of local livestock and food production.
“Access to veterinary services remains a challenge for many New Mexicans in rural communities,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. “This program will strengthen food animal health, protect our food systems and support rural economies statewide while reducing student debt for those who choose to serve the state.”
The program awards veterinarians $15,000 for the first two years of service in the state, with up to an additional $25,000 for each of the following two years.
Applications for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program are open Oct. 1 through Nov. 1.
Jovani Armendariz said he applied for the Veterinary Loan Forgiveness Program because rural eastern New Mexico urgently needs accessible food-animal veterinary care and starting a mobile mixed-animal practice in an underserved area requires significant personal investment.
“This support will allow me to reinvest directly into herd health services, emergency response and affordable care for local producers, strengthening both animal health and food security,” he said. “I’m committed to serving these communities long-term, and this program helps make that possible.”