Application and Selection
For students applying for the 2027-28 academic year:
- RHOP application deadline is Dec. 1, 2026.
- RHOP Interview Day is Friday, Jan. 15, 2027.
RHOP application process
- Apply for admission at 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 system.
- If selected, interview with WSC faculty and staff.
Application details
All parts of the application must be submitted by the deadline noted above. For the application, be sure to:
- Select only one health field
- Submit current high school transcript
- Submit a current ACT score or super score
- Arrange for three people to write you letters of recommendation
For any questions regarding the application process, please contact the WSC Health Professions Office at 402-375-7329 or [email protected].
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for RHOP, you must:
- Be a Nebraska resident who has either a rural home address or rural high school address. The following cities and towns are not considered rural: 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.
RHOP selection process
Selection for RHOP is based on a variety of factors. Ideal students are well-rounded and dedicated to health professions, have demonstrated a commitment to the rural areas of Nebraska, are willing to work hard, and have demonstrated they have the intellectual ability to complete the rigorous academic programs of the health professions at WSC and UNMC. These factors are important, but special emphasis is placed on:
- the academic potential of the student as demonstrated by GPA (grade point average), letters of recommendation, ACT/SAT scores, and the interview
- demonstration of commitment to return to the rural areas of Nebraska to practice the health profession, including knowledge of the profession, community service and leadership activities, and knowledge of RHOP
- academic preparation. Students are strongly encouraged to have completed or plan to complete the following core courses (if possible) to demonstrate their academic preparation: three years of math; four years of English; one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. If selected for RHOP, all pertinent college-level science and math courses must be taken at WSC.
- a biography stating why the student wants to be part of RHOP and their commitment to rural Nebraska
Program continuance
Once accepted into RHOP, successful completion of the WSC portion of the program includes:
- Following a specific curriculum of courses
- Maintaining and completing program requirements for RHOP as a whole in addition to the program requirements for your specific health field