Professional Student Loan Caps Omit Nursing
The Department of Education released its final rule on graduate loan limits which excludes nursing from the definition of ‘professional’ degree programs. Read ANA’s press release on the final rule.
The Department of Education (ED) was tasked by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to reduce government support for federal graduate school loans that are not subsidized.
ED formed a committee to identify how to implement the provisions, which set two designations: professional and graduate degrees, each with a specific loan cap. The department’s final rule implementing the provisions does not include nursing in the definition of ‘professional degree’ programs, 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 set new limits on how much graduate and professional students can borrow in federal graduate student 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.
Subsequently, the ED issued a proposed rule based on recommendations from that committee, which set the parameters and a list of specific degrees that qualify for higher ‘professional’ loan caps. All other graduate students—including registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)—are limited by loan caps that are significantly lower.
Professions included in new ‘professional degree’ definition:
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Veterinary medicine
- Chiropractic
- Law
- Clinical psychology
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Osteopathic medicine
- Podiatry
- Theology
The release of the proposed rule opened a public comment period, giving stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in on why the Department of Education must include post-baccalaureate nursing degrees in the professional definition. Over 80,000 comments were received.
On May 1, ED released its final rule which finalizes the provisions related to defining professional and graduate degree programs as proposed—meaning post-baccalaureate degree programs are considered graduate degree programs and eligible for the lower borrowing limits.
What We’re Doing:
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is working closely with our coalition partners – both within and beyond the nursing community – to ensure a strong, unified response.
ANA submitted formal comments and led a multi-pronged advocacy campaign as opportunities to pressure ED to recognize nursing as a professional field arise.
Coalition Work:
Two major coalitions that ANA engages with submitted letters to the Department urging inclusion of nurses and APRNs.
Next Steps:
We are collaborating with our Constituent/State Nursing Associations, organizational affiliates, and other nursing community partners on a coordinated, rapid response to amplify our position.
Check back for more updates, talking points, and grassroot mobilizations as this issue develops. Sign up for RN Action alerts to receive urgent calls to action and updates