HPSA Score Guide

Your Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score is one of the most important numbers in rural health funding. Here's how it works.

What is a HPSA Score?

HPSA scores range from 0 to 25 and measure the severity of a health professional shortage in a geographic area, population group, or facility. Higher scores indicate greater need.

How Scores Are Calculated

HRSA evaluates factors including population-to-provider ratios, poverty rates, travel time to nearest source of care, and infant health indicators.

Why Your Score Matters

Many federal grant programs use HPSA scores as competitive review criteria. National Health Service Corps placements prioritize higher scores. Some loan repayment programs require minimum scores.