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Nursing programs excluded from 'professional degree' status under new federal loan rules. Here's what would change
Graduate nursing students will face lower federal borrowing caps from July 2026, reducing loan limits from $200,000 to $100,000, raising concerns over nurse shortage impacts.
- Following changes tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the U.S. Department of Education said 'the Department did not update the federal definition of 'professional degree' to exclude nursing.'
- Signed in July, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act imposed lifetime borrowing caps and led the U.S. Department of Education to update its list, removing nursing and allied clinical programs.
- Under the new law, students pursuing master's, doctorate, and other advanced nursing degrees face borrowing caps of $50,000 annually and $200,000 total, with repayment restructured to a new income-based plan, effective July 1, 2026.
- The American Nurses Association said most graduate nursing students rely on federal aid, and the Department warned that reduced funding could harm workforce development for next year.
- Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Education reclassifies nursing outside professional degrees, affecting federal loan limits and ending Grad PLUS for new borrowers in the 2026-2027 academic year, despite nursing groups' warnings.
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'A slap in the face': Colorado nurses push back as proposal removes 'professional degree' status
COLORADO (KRDO) - The Department of Education is redefining professional degrees, which means big changes to student loan limits. Our news affiliates at CNN have reported that a new proposal in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is limiting funding to student nurses. Graduate students in studies deemed "professional" can still qualify for max loans up to $200,000, but nursing students will now be capped at half of that. The list of professional degrees …
·Colorado Springs, United States
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Nursing programs excluded from 'professional degree' status under new federal loan rules. Here's what would change
The proposed changes would lower federal loan limits for graduate nursing students and has sparked widespread backlash from nursing organizations.
·Jacksonville, United States
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Total News Sources19
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution84% Center
Bias Distribution
- 84% of the sources are Center
84% Center
11%
C 84%
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