The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” limited student loan borrowing for graduate and professional degrees, excluding nursing from the list of programs eligible for higher debt limits. This decision, which set a $100,000 borrowing cap for nursing students, sparked criticism from nursing organizations who argued it would hinder access to funding and threaten patient care. A group of Republican representatives, including Rep. Mike Lawler and Jen Kiggans, are now backing legislation to include nursing in the list of professional degrees eligible for higher funding. Despite the Education Department claiming most nursing students would not be affected, nursing organizations and advocates argue the move disregards the critical need for qualified nurses and contradicts the department’s own definitions.
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A bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers has voiced opposition to the Department of Education’s proposal for new student-loan limits within President Trump’s repayment overhaul. The proposal includes lifetime borrowing caps for graduate and professional students, with a $100,000 limit for graduate programs and a $200,000 limit for professional programs, which the department has defined to include programs like medicine, dentistry, and law. Lawmakers argue that excluding post-graduate nursing programs from the professional definition could worsen existing nursing shortages, particularly for programs such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The Department of Education maintains that the caps would affect a small percentage of nursing students, with the changes slated for implementation in 2026 and are still subject to public feedback.
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Under the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” nursing has been removed from the definition of a “professional” degree, and the Grad PLUS loan program is slated for elimination. This means that students pursuing post-baccalaureate nursing degrees will face new borrowing limits. These changes have caused significant concern within the nursing community. Several organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, have expressed their opposition and worry about the impact on the existing nursing shortage. Despite this outrage, the Department of Education has refuted claims of the changes by calling the reporting “fake news”.
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Due to the implementation of President Trump’s federal spending bill, graduate nursing programs are no longer classified as professional degrees, thus eliminating access to federal loans for nursing students. This change has sparked concerns among Kentucky nurses, who are already facing a healthcare workforce shortage, with a majority of the state’s counties designated as health professional shortage areas. The Kentucky Nurses Association fears the reclassification will worsen the shortage and impact patient care, as advanced practice registered nurses are crucial for providing essential healthcare, especially in rural areas. The American Nurses Association is urging members to contact legislators to advocate for nursing to be reclassified as a professional degree to ensure access to loan programs and strengthen the workforce.
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John Q. Hosedrinker