A professor and students use the Anatomage Table in the biology lab

Rural Health Opportunities Program

Designed to help meet the state's health care needs, RHOP recruits students from rural Nebraska to become health care professionals. RHOP students receive free tuition at WSC and guaranteed admission to UNMC.

About RHOP

Rural communities make up a majority of Nebraska. They are the lifeblood of the state and deserve quality medical care. Established and successful for more than 25 years, the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) is a special cooperative program between Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to meet that need. As a citizen of rural Nebraska, you've experienced the rural lifestyle, and you know the unique needs of your community. That's why we're recruiting Nebraskans like you - because you're dedicated to your home state and you care about its rural health care needs. We do too. Our program represents that commitment and will prepare you to return to rural Nebraska and care for its citizens.

Program benefits*:

  • Full tuition scholarship at Wayne State College (does not apply to summer session courses)
  • Guaranteed admission into UNMC
  • Early registration privileges
  • Opportunities to visit UNMC during your time at Wayne State
  • Special academic advising
  • Free official MCAT practice tests

*Benefits are contingent upon successfully maintaining and completing the program requirements (below). Those not selected for the program will be considered for other scholarships.

Applying for RHOP

Important dates

For students applying for the 2025-26 academic year:

Application deadline
Dec. 1, 2024

RHOP Interview Day
Jan. 17, 2025

For more info, contact:

WSC Health Professions Office
402-375-7329
[email protected]

Get the Details

RHOP guidelines

The following health fields are eligible for RHOP at Wayne State College. RHOP participants spend time at WSC and UNMC, with the amount of time at each institution determined by the chosen program. Each field has a limited number of positions available. Select a health field below for more details.

To be eligible for application to RHOP, you must:

  • Be a rural Nebraska resident. (Students from the following cities and towns are not considered rural and therefore not eligible to apply to RHOP: Omaha, Ralston, Boys Town, Elkhorn, Lincoln, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Chalco, and Offutt Air Force Base.)
  • Be an incoming freshman that has applied to Wayne State College.

All application materials must be sent to and received by WSC by Dec. 1 for consideration for the following school year.

Applying for RHOP

We are looking for well-rounded students who are dedicated to health professions, committed to rural areas of Nebraska, have a willingness to work hard, and the intellectual ability to complete the rigorous programs of the health professions at WSC and UNMC.

The selection process is considered competitive, as you are earning a chance at a full-ride scholarship at Wayne State and guaranteed admission into medical school at UNMC. Numerous factors are part of the selection process; however, special emphasis is placed on your academic potential (GPA, ACT/SAT scores), high school coursework (successful completion of core courses) and extracurricular activities, and your commitment to rural Nebraska.

Once accepted into the RHOP program, successful completion of the WSC portion of the program includes the following:

  • A specific curriculum of courses must be taken at WSC.
  • If you are accepted into a specific RHOP career field but decide to pursue a different profession, you will lose your RHOP status.
  • To maintain status in the program, a standard of grades is applied to specific and general academic courses.
  • Alternates may also be chosen in the event that students with guaranteed positions do not successfully complete their studies at WSC.
quote marks

Coming from a rural community, RHOP seemed like a perfect fit. Not only is the full-tuition scholarship helpful, but the experiences and networking opportunities have also been more than beneficial. This program has allowed me to make connections with other RHOP students and professors at UNMC. After I receive my Doctorate of Pharmacy, I plan to live and work in a rural community.

Mariah Marisch

Spalding, Nebraska

Pre-Pharmacy

 
quote marks
Mariah Marisch
quote marks

Coming from a rural community, RHOP seemed like a perfect fit. Not only is the full-tuition scholarship helpful, but the experiences and networking opportunities have also been more than beneficial. This program has allowed me to make connections with other RHOP students and professors at UNMC. After I receive my Doctorate of Pharmacy, I plan to live and work in a rural community.

quote marks
Mariah Marisch

Mariah Marisch

Spalding, Nebraska

Pre-Pharmacy

A student works in the biology lab
Take the Next Step

How to apply for RHOP

  • Apply for admission to Wayne State College. After applying, you'll receive your campus email address, which you'll need to apply to RHOP.
  • Apply for RHOP through the Wayne State College scholarship application systemand complete all requirements listed. Applications are due Dec. 1 each year.
  • Complete the interview process. If selected, you’ll be invited to interview with faculty and staff. RHOP Interview Day is typically in mid-January.