- New federal rules will cap graduate borrowing at $100,000 for most programs and $200,000 for a small group of “professional degrees,” including medicine, dentistry and law.
- Social media posts have claimed that the Department of Education has “excluded” nursing from professional degree status, however, the agency’s latest FAQ disputes these claims.
- The department says 95% of nursing students borrow less than the new limits, and argues the caps could lead to lower tuition fees for graduates.
The Education Department moved this week to confront a wave of online allegations about how the federal government categorizes nursing programs within new student loan limits that will take effect next year.
The directive came in a publication entitled “Myth versus reality: defining professional degrees,” attempts to explain how the term “professional grade” has been used under President Trump Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) And why are some nursing programs not included in the category eligible for the highest borrowing cap?
The agency insists the answer has nothing to do with whether nursing is considered “professional” or not, but rather to do with how federal loan limits swell over time.
Why do student loan borrowing categories change?
Under the OBBBA, Congress instructed the Department to set limits on student loan borrowing that distinguished between graduate and professional programs.
For nearly two decades, all types of graduate students have been allowed to borrow up to the full cost of attendance through a combination of Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Graduate Supplement Loans. The department says this open borrowing authority has helped foster significant tuition growth in many areas, contributing to the federal portfolio that now totals about $1.7 trillion.
OBBBA ended the Grad PLUS loan program, then capped Graduate Direct Loan borrowing with a two-tier cap system:
- $200,000 lifetime cap For a limited set of “professional degrees,” such as medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS/DMD), and law (JD).
- $100,000 lifetime cap For all other graduate and doctoral programs, including advanced nursing degrees.
College borrowers are largely unaffected, with the exception of Parent PLUS loans, which also face new caps.
A negotiated rulemaking committee (made up of higher education stakeholders) reached consensus earlier this month on which degrees would qualify for the cap. This consensus is defined here: Postgraduate versus professional degrees by CIP code.
Why is nursing not listed as a “professional” degree?
The FAQ responds to one of the most widespread claims: that management “does not consider nurses to be professionals.” The agency describes this as a misunderstanding of the term.
As the Department frames it, “professional grade” is an internal category used only to determine which programs qualify for the higher borrowing cap. It does not reflect a judgment about the social, clinical or economic value of grades. In other words, the term is administrative, not symbolic.
Nursing programs have wide variation in tuition fees, cost structure, and duration. Most don’t come close to the price of a medical or dental program, which can exceed $200,000 in tuition alone.
The FAQ also highlighted that “loan limits are limited to graduate programs and It has no impact on undergraduate nursing programsincluding a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a two-year Associate in Nursing degree. 80% of the nursing workforce does not have a graduate degree.”
The administration cites its own data to prove this 95% of nursing students borrow less than the new limitsWhich suggests that most nursing students in this field should have sufficient federal borrowing capacity even under the reduced caps.
Impact on students and the nursing workforce
Concerns about Nursing shortage It was widely circulated, especially in online discussions, that interpreted the new structure as a financial barrier to advanced practical training. Management addresses these concerns directly.
According to FAQ:
- Hats do no Impacts undergraduate nursing education, including associate and bachelor’s degree programs.
- almost 80% of the nursing workforce does not have a university degreeWhich means the majority of practicing nurses will see no change in their ability to borrow.
- Most current nursing students borrow within the new limits.
still, Nursing leaders raised broader concerns Not addressed by the FAQ: The possibility that cost pressures could impact program availability, stifle long-term workforce growth, or shift financial burdens to employers. Because many advanced practice roles (such as nurse practitioners) require graduate degrees, even a small percentage of students who pass the cutoff may face barriers if program tuition remains high.
However, the Ministry sets caps as a cost control mechanism. By reducing the amount students can borrow through federal loans, the agency says colleges will face pressure to lower tuition for higher-priced graduate programs.
What does this mean for future nursing students
For students who plan to earn an MSN, DNP, or graduate certificate, the changes may change how their studies are financed but are unlikely to completely block access to federal loans.
Here are the immediate takeaways:
- Most graduate nursing students must stay within federal borrowing limitsbased on department data.
- Students in high-cost programs may need to consider a combination of federal loans, employer tuition support, state aid, or Private loans If tuition significantly exceeds the new $100,000 limit.
- Tuition fees may fluctuate In the coming years as programs adapt to specific federal lending.
- The definition of “professional degree” may evolve. Once the final rule is published and public comments are reviewed.
Students entering programs in fall 2026 or later should monitor announcements closely, especially regarding financial aid changes.
Looking forward
The nursing shortage remains a pressing workforce challenge. The question now is whether the new federal caps will rein in costs, as the department hopes, or create friction in the training pipeline that could exacerbate existing shortages.
The public comment period will likely serve as a prime venue for nursing associations, universities, and employers to express concerns or support.
The final rule could look different depending on those comments (although, unfortunately, it is unlikely), but the basic message from the administration this week is simple: Contrary to widespread claims, the policy is not a judgment on the nursing profession.
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