A proposal from the Trump administration would exclude nursing from the federal government’s list of professional degree programs, a move that has sparked strong opposition from nursing advocates who warn it could worsen the nation’s ongoing nurse shortage by limiting how much students can borrow to pay for their education.
The proposed change stems from provisions authorized under Republicans’ “one big, beautiful bill” act, which introduced new federal student loan caps. Beginning July 1, 2026, students enrolled in programs designated as professional degrees would be allowed to borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime borrowing cap of $200,000.
Graduate students in programs that are not classified as professional degrees would face significantly lower limits — $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime.
Nursing groups say they are alarmed by the Education Department’s definition of a professional degree, which includes fields such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, but excludes nursing. They argue that the lower borrowing limits could discourage students from enrolling in nursing programs at a time when the health care system is already struggling with staffing shortages.
The proposal would create “obstacles for students who want to pursue advanced degrees, which would most likely lead to fewer students pursuing degrees in nursing,” said Kim Litwack, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Nursing. “That means fewer of these professionals entering the workforce.”
In a statement issued earlier this month, the Education Department said the proposal establishes a new definition of professional students to determine eligibility for higher loan limits. The department said the goal is to prevent borrowers from taking on “insurmountable debt to finance degrees that do not pay off,” according to Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent.
In an email to CBS News, the department said approximately 95% of nursing students would not be affected by the new borrowing caps. Students currently enrolled in higher-cost programs would be grandfathered into existing loan limits, said Ellen Keast, press secretary for higher education at the agency.
“We expect that institutions charging tuition rates well above market prices will consider lowering tuition as a result of these historic reforms,” Keast said.
Definition of a professional degree
Under the proposal, a professional degree is defined as one that “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession, and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.”
The Education Department emphasized that the designation is used solely to determine eligibility for higher loan limits and “is not a value judgment about the importance of programs.”
Programs classified as professional degrees include pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology. Degrees not included — such as nursing, physical therapy and physician assistant programs — would be subject to lower borrowing limits.
Other professional organizations have also objected to the exclusions. The Council on Social Work Education said it was “disheartened and concerned,” while the American Academy of Audiology warned that excluding audiology could deter students from entering the field.
The American Nurses Association called nursing’s omission “illogical.”
“Nursing’s exclusion from the list of professional degree programs makes no sense,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy.
In addition to the new loan caps, the legislation would eliminate the Grad PLUS program, which currently allows graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance. Nursing advocates say the combined changes could create significant financial barriers for students pursuing advanced degrees.
“It feels like a miscommunication, and we hope the Department of Education revises the proposed language before the rule is finalized,” Kennedy said. “They added professions to the list before it was released, and nursing clearly belongs.”
The Education Department said the proposal will be published in the Federal Register and opened for public comment, though a publication date has not yet been announced.
Impact on access and workforce
Health policy experts warn the proposal could reduce the number of nurses entering advanced practice roles, particularly in underserved areas.
“It’s going to limit nurses’ ability to apply to graduate school and ultimately reduce the number of nurses working in hospitals and primary care settings,” said Olga Yakusheva, an economist and professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “Communities with physician shortages will feel this most.”
Patricia Pittman, a professor of health policy and management at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, said nurse practitioners play a vital role in rural health care.
“Basically, nobody would be there if it weren’t for these nurse practitioners,” Pittman said, adding that the proposal could also harm morale across the nursing profession.
