The Trump administration’s proposed changes to student loan borrowing limits could greatly impact the nursing profession, as it seeks to redefine what constitutes a professional degree, omitting nursing from the list. This decision has ignited significant backlash from nursing advocates, who warn that it may exacerbate an already pressing shortage of nurses by restricting borrowing capabilities for students pursuing nursing degrees.
The proposal follows the legislative initiative known as the “one big, beautiful bill,” which would implement stricter caps on student loans for various higher education programs starting July 1, 2026. Under these new regulations, students enrolled in programs categorized as professional would be limited to borrowing $50,000 annually, with a lifetime cap of $200,000. Conversely, those in graduate programs not classified as professional, including nursing, would face a lower annual borrowing ceiling of $20,500 and a lifetime limit of $100,000.
Nursing leaders express alarm over the implications of excluding nursing from the professional degree classification, particularly as the nation grapples with a critical shortage of nursing professionals. They argue that imposing loan caps on nursing students could deter aspiring nurses from entering the field. Kim Litwack, a nursing professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, emphasized the potential for decreased enrollment among students seeking advanced degrees, further limiting the workforce.
The Education Department has stated that the aim of these changes is to ensure that students do not incur unmanageable debt for degrees that may not provide economic returns, a rationale articulated by Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. However, it was also conveyed that approximately 95% of nursing students would remain unaffected by the proposed borrowing limits, with provisions made to grandfather current students into existing lending criteria.
The definition of a professional degree, as per the Education Department’s proposal, encompasses programs that signify readiness for professional practice and a specific skill level beyond a bachelor’s degree. While various medical fields like pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine have been recognized, nursing and related fields such as physical therapy and physician assistant programs have not.
This exclusion has sparked opposition from other professional organizations as well. The Council on Social Work Education expressed concerns, and the American Academy of Audiology noted that its field’s omission could similarly discourage prospective students.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, expressed confusion and frustration over nursing’s exclusion from the professional designation, labeling the situation as a miscommunication and holding on to hope for change before the proposal is formally released for public commentary.
Economic experts like Olga Yakusheva from Johns Hopkins University highlighted that limiting the borrowing potential could diminish the number of qualified nurses, particularly impacting primary care and rural healthcare systems that rely heavily on nursing professionals. Similarly, Patricia Pittman from George Washington University warned that the rule could lead to financial barriers that disincentivize nurses from pursuing advanced licensure, which is vital to addressing care gaps in underserved areas.
Overall, the proposed changes risk posing significant hurdles for future nursing students and may ultimately lead to a more profound health care crisis, especially in communities where nursing shortages are already pronounced. Advocates remain hopeful for a reconsideration of the exclusion, standing firm that nursing indisputably qualifies as a professional degree, critical to the health system’s functionality.