Health care workers seeking advanced training or entering the field are raising concerns about the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to narrow which graduate programs qualify as “professional degrees” for higher federal student loan limits.
In a new proposal, the U.S. Department of Education would narrow which graduate programs qualify as professional degrees for higher federal loan limits, meaning fewer programs would be eligible for larger borrowing caps.
This policy change, according to multiple reports, stems from the GOP-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which directed the agency to redefine professional degrees for federal loan purposes.
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What’s concerning, critics say, is that the proposal would strip the “professional” designation from hundreds of master’s and doctoral programs — including nursing, public health, counseling, education and other essential fields
‘Consequences will be immediate.’
As for nursing, headlines and social media posts have highlighted concerns that the proposal would negatively affect advanced degree programs.
Some Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are not included on the Education Department’s draft list of professional degrees eligible for higher borrowing limits, which could reduce the amount of federal loan aid available to nursing students, according to Newsweek.
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Nursing and public health experts, such as Dr. Shawnte’ Elbert, warn the policy shift could cause a domino effect by restricting loan access, worsening workforce shortages across health care settings and making clinical training more expensive for students.
Elbert, owner of Elbert Innovative Solutions and a health education professor, told Blackdoctor.org in a brief phone conversation that the changes should not be taken lightly, even as the Trump administration has released a fact sheet about the proposal. BDO plans to conduct a more in‑depth interview with Elbert to explore the implications further.
“These financial limits will reduce who can enter the field — and the community consequences will be immediate,” Elbert said.
Limits on loan borrowing
The Trump administration’s proposal would significantly reduce the number of degree programs eligible for larger federal borrowing allowances, which previously applied more broadly to graduate students, according to a report from Inside Higher Ed.
Under the plan, federal rules would be reshaped into two categories. Most graduate students would be capped at borrowing $20,500 a year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000. By contrast, students enrolled in programs the department designates as professional could borrow up to $50,000 a year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000. The administration has said the new limits would apply to loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026.
The proposal would also eliminate the Graduate PLUS loan program, which has allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance. Instead, the administration says it would create a repayment assistance framework for eligible borrowers, according to CNBC.
What DOE says this change is
The department has defended the move, saying that it is a way to curb graduate borrowing growth and target larger loans to programs that meet specific criteria the agency has set for professional preparation. It also claims that the change is intended to reduce overall graduate student debt and to align loan policy with statutory direction from the recent bill.
According to the Education Department’s “Myth vs. Fact” page, officials stress the proposal is only about student‑loan categories and not a judgment on the professions themselves. The agency says the change would not affect accreditation, licensure, job titles or professional recognition.
Department officials also argue most graduate students will not be affected, noting that about 95 percent of nursing students already borrow below the new cap. They contend the limits could help reduce excessive borrowing and pressure schools to lower tuition.
However, critics argue that the administration’s explanation is misleading.
Organizations such as the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, analysts writing in Inside Higher Ed and public health leaders counter that the department’s framing downplays the impact.
They argue the proposal would make essential degrees harder to afford, with many programs costing $45,000 to $90,000 a year — leaving private loans as the only option for many students. Critics also warn the change would disproportionately harm Black and brown students, who are more likely to rely on federal loans to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, public health and other service‑oriented fields.
What comes next
The policy proposal will be published in the Federal Register for public comment before any final rule is issued. Stakeholders — including universities, professional associations and state regulators — are expected to press for clarifications or exemptions for fields such as nursing, physical therapy and social work.
Students pursuing advanced nursing degrees are advised to monitor the rulemaking process, consult financial‑aid offices about projected borrowing limits and explore alternative funding sources such as scholarships, employer tuition assistance and state programs.
