Professional Student Loan Caps Omit Nursing

As the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) goes into effect, the Department of Education (ED) is tasked with reducing government support for graduate school loans that are not subsidized. The ED formed a committee to identify how to implement the provisions, which recommended two designations: professional and graduate degrees, each with a specific loan cap.

At this time, that definition of ‘professional degree’ programs excludes nursing, making them ineligible for the higher loan cap.

What This Means for Nurses:

Excluding nursing from the definition of ‘professional degrees’ means that graduate nursing students will have a lower cap on the amount of federal loans they can receive:

• Graduate loan caps: limits of $20,500 annual / $100,000 total
• ‘Professional’ loan caps: $50,000 annual / $200,000 total

A survey of deans by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that:

• 78% said the annual loan cap will negatively impact their post-baccalaureate enrollment,
• 70% said the lifetime loan cap will negatively impact their post-baccalaureate enrollment, and
• 77% said the new loan caps will negatively impact faculty at their college of nursing.

Background:

The ED is implementing provisions of the OBBBA that would set new limits on how much graduate and professional students can borrow in federal loans. A Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee convened and began a process known as negotiated rulemaking, finding consensus on a policy approach prior to the formal regulatory rulemaking process.

That committee issued negotiated rulemaking and, under the current recommendations, only students pursuing specified degrees would qualify for higher “professional” loan caps. All other graduate students—including registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)—will face loan caps that are significantly lower.

As we understand, the reason the committee limited the professional definition in this way is to fulfill the intent of the OBBA provision—to reign in student loan debt and the tuition costs. Why nursing was excluded likely stems from historical evolution. Beginning in the 1960s, graduate degrees in nursing were categorized as academic graduate programs (post-licensure specialization or research credentials), not entry-level professional degrees. The first-professional category was reserved for post-baccalaureate programs where the degree itself qualified the graduate to enter professional practice or licensure.

ED is expected to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) early in 2026, based on the recommendations from the RISE committee’s negotiated rulemaking process. The NPRM will open a public comment period, giving an opportunity to weigh in on why ED must include graduate nursing degrees in the professional definition.

Coalition Work:

Already, two major coalitions that ANA engages with have submitted letters to the Department urging inclusion of nurses and APRNs.

Next Steps:

A public comment window will open once the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is published. ANA is monitoring closely for its release. We will collaborate with our Constituent/State Nursing Associations on a coordinated, rapid response to amplify our position. Check back for updates, talking points, and grassroot calls to actions as this issue develops.

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