Washington, D.C. – In a move that has sparked widespread outrage among healthcare professionals and educators, the U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration has officially excluded nursing programs from its definition of “professional degree” programs. The change, part of implementing the president’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), eliminates uncapped federal graduate loans and imposes stricter borrowing limits on many advanced healthcare fields, potentially making nursing education far more expensive and inaccessible.
The OBBBA, signed into law earlier this year as a massive spending and reform package, abolishes the Grad PLUS loan program — which previously allowed graduate and professional students to borrow unlimited amounts to cover the full cost of attendance. In its place, the bill introduces tiered borrowing caps: up to $50,000 annually (with a $200,000 lifetime limit) for students in designated “professional degree” programs, and lower caps — often around $20,000–$100,000 total — for other graduate fields.
According to Department of Education guidelines released this week, “professional degrees” are now strictly limited to programs like law (JD), medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS/DMD), veterinary medicine (DVM), pharmacy (PharmD), and a handful of others that traditionally require doctoral-level training and align with historical precedents. Notably absent from the list are Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), nurse practitioner programs, physician assistants, physical therapy, and several other allied health fields.
The Department of Education categorized the following programs as professional:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Law
- Veterinary medicine
- Osteopathic medicine
- Podiatry
- Chiropractic
- Theology
- Clinical psychology
Nurse practitioners, along with physician assistants and physical therapists are notably excluded from the list.
Critics Respond
“This is a gut punch for nursing,” said Patricia Pittman, a professor of health policy at George Washington University. “At a time when we desperately need more nurses — especially advanced practice providers in rural and underserved areas — this policy creates a major financial barrier to education and training.”
The American Nurses Association (ANA) issued a strongly worded statement calling the decision “deeply concerning,” warning that it “threatens the very foundation of patient care” by discouraging students from pursuing nursing degrees amid already severe shortages. Over 260,000 students are currently enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, with tens of thousands more in advanced tracks, according to ANA data.
Department of Education spokesperson Ellen Keast defended the reclassification, stating: “The Department has had a consistent definition of what constitutes a professional degree for decades, and the consensus-based language aligns with this historical precedent.” Officials emphasized that the changes aim to curb excessive borrowing and align loan limits with program outcomes.
Critics, however, argue the policy disproportionately harms fields dominated by women and middle-class students. “In simple terms, becoming an advanced practice nurse just got harder and more expensive,” read a report from Nurse.org. Social media has exploded with reactions from nurses and students, many highlighting years of rigorous training and high debt loads — one viral post from a New Jersey clinic noted a nurse with “10 years of schooling, $210k in debt, and 15 years of ER experience.”
The reclassification affects not only nursing but also physician assistants, physical therapists, educators, social workers, and others. Advocacy groups are urging the administration to reconsider, with some preparing legal challenges or lobbying Congress for amendments.
Could the Nursing Shortage Worsen?
As the U.S. faces an ongoing nursing shortage projected to worsen as the population ages, experts warn that reduced funding could lead to fewer graduates, higher healthcare costs, and strained hospital systems nationwide. According to 2024 statistics, over 267,000 students are enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.
The Department of Education has concluded negotiated rulemaking sessions on the OBBBA’s loan provisions, with final rules expected soon. For now, the future of nursing education hangs in the balance under the Trump administration’s bold overhaul of federal student aid.
