• Change impacts over 260,000 students in Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs and 42,000 in Associate Degree programs
• Professional degree students can borrow $200,000 lifetime limit while graduate students capped at $100,000
• American Nurses Association warns decision threatens foundation of patient care amid existing shortage

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The U.S. Department of Education has excluded nursing from its list of recognized professional degree programs as it implements student loan changes included in President Donald Trump‘s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” sparking significant backlash from healthcare organizations nationwide.

The reclassification directly impacts how graduate nursing students access federal loans and loan forgiveness programs, creating substantial financial obstacles for students pursuing advanced nursing education. The new measures are scheduled for implementation starting July 1, 2026.

Loan limits differ by classification

Under the legislation signed in July 2025, the Grad PLUS program that allowed graduate students to borrow up to full attendance costs has been eliminated. The bill establishes a new Repayment Assistance Plan capping annual loans for new borrowers at $20,500 for graduate students and $50,000 for professional students.

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Professional degree students can borrow up to a $200,000 lifetime limit, while other graduate students face a $100,000 cap. The Department of Education determined that only specific programs qualify as professional: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, law, veterinary medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, theology and clinical psychology.

At a time when healthcare in our country faces a historic nurse shortage and rising demands, limiting nurses’ access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care

Noticeably absent from the list are nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists and audiologists, according to nursing advocacy groups.

Historical ambiguity in regulations

Nursing was not explicitly included in the federal government’s regulatory definition of a professional degree established in 1965. The regulation lists several fields such as law and medicine but notes the definition is “not limited to” the examples provided.

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That phrasing left unclear whether nursing was ever meant to fall under the category. The term professional degree helps determine student loan eligibility and repayment terms, and nursing’s omission from the original list is now shaping how borrowers are classified.

Ellen Keast, the Education Department press secretary for higher education, told media outlets the department has maintained a consistent definition for decades. She stated the consensus-based language aligns with historical precedent and accused institutions of overreacting to changes affecting unlimited tuition funding from taxpayers.

Nursing organizations mount opposition

The American Nurses Association and American Association of Colleges of Nursing have launched efforts to reverse the decision, arguing nursing meets all criteria for a professional discipline including rigorous education, licensure requirements and direct patient care responsibilities.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, urged the Department of Education to recognize nursing as an essential profession and ensure access to loan programs that make advanced nursing education possible.

Olga Yakusheva, a professor of nursing and business of health at Johns Hopkins University, warned that with capped federal student loans, fewer nurses will afford graduate nursing education such as Master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and PhD degrees.

Impact on healthcare workforce

Patricia Pittman of George Washington University called the decision “a gut punch,” stating it undermines retention efforts, especially in rural areas where nursing shortages are most acute.

The policy change affects current and future students. More than 260,000 students are currently enrolled in entry-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs and approximately 42,000 in Associate Degree in Nursing programs, according to American Nurses Association data.

Graduate nursing students already burdened with high tuition will lose financial benefits reserved for professional degree programs. This could deter prospective students, particularly those from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, according to healthcare workforce analysts.

The exclusion applies to all graduate nursing programs, which first require graduation from an RN program. While some registered nurses enter school intending to further their education, many choose to work at the bedside in the interim or to gain experience, potentially impacting long-term career advancement patterns.

Nursing costs vary significantly. An Associate Degree in Nursing ranges from $3,000 to $17,000 annually, while a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can cost between $6,000 and more than $60,000 per year. Master of Science in Nursing tuition starts around $12,000 and can exceed $100,000, with public universities generally less expensive than private institutions.

Should the Department of Education reconsider its classification to address the growing nursing shortage and maintain adequate healthcare workforce pipelines?

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