A coalition of nursing and other health care organizations have expressed their discontent over a plan by the Trump administration that could restrict access to federal student loans for certain graduate programs. Under the proposed changes, students pursuing degrees in nursing, physical therapy, public health, and other fields would face tighter loan limits, as these programs are not considered professional, reports BritPanorama.
The reformation is part of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress. Previously, graduate students could borrow loans up to the total cost of their degree; however, the anticipated regulations would introduce caps based on whether the degree is classified as a graduate or professional program.
The Education Department has designated specific fields, including pharmacy, dentistry, and law, as professional programs. Notably absent from this categorization are degrees in nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, and social work, as well as professions outside health care like architecture and education.
The proposed loan caps, expected to be implemented next July, would restrict borrowing for students in the excluded fields to $20,500 annually, with a total limit of $100,000, whereas those in defined professional programs could borrow up to $50,000 a year and $200,000 total.
Why this is happening now
The Trump administration asserts that implementing limits on graduate loans is necessary to mitigate tuition costs. By capping loans, the administration aims to encourage universities with above-average tuition fees to consider reducing their rates.
In defining professional programs, the Education Department is referring to a 1965 law governing student financial aid, which provides examples but is not comprehensive. The administration’s proposal stipulates that only degrees explicitly mentioned in the new regulations qualify as professional.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing stated that as of 2022, one in six registered nurses in the U.S. held a master’s degree. Details of the administrative proposal were formulated during a recent federal rulemaking process.
What this means for students
The revised plan could render it more expensive or challenging for some students to pursue specialized degrees. Future students entering professional programs will be able to borrow significantly more in loans compared to their peers in nursing and related fields, who will be subject to the lower caps.
The implications suggest a substantial difference in financial assistance, potentially limiting access to education in critical health sectors.
Trump administration says impact will be minimal
The Education Department claims that 95% of nursing students are enrolled in graduate programs that will not be impacted by the proposed caps. Officials assert that most students are in programs costing below the suggested $100,000 cap.
Additionally, students already enrolled in graduate programs will be exempt from the new limits and allowed to maintain their existing borrowing capacities.
Health groups say change will worsen nursing shortage
A coalition of health care organizations is pushing the Education Department to reconsider, insisting that advanced health care degrees required for licensure should be classified as professional degrees. They highlight that the excluded fields are predominantly filled by women and are in high demand. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report from 2019, women represented about three-fourths of the U.S. health care workforce.
These organizations contend that limiting federal loan access will exacerbate the current nursing shortage, compel students to seek costlier private loans, and threaten the quality of patient care.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing warned that if the proposal is enacted, “the impact on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating.”
Advocates for nursing education, including Susan Pratt, president of a nurses’ union in Toledo, Ohio, emphasize that easy access to education opportunities has attracted new talent to the profession. She cautioned that increasing financial barriers might deter prospective nurses. “It’s just a smack in the face,” Pratt remarked, reflecting on the gratitude nursing professionals anticipated after their efforts during the pandemic.
As debates continue over the financial structures surrounding higher education, the implications for health care professions remain a pressing concern.
