A bipartisan coalition of more than 140 lawmakers has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education demanding that nursing programs be added to the list of “professional” degrees. The request comes after the Trump administration’s new loan‑cap rules excluded nursing from the professional category, a move that could make it difficult for students in high‑cost specialties such as nurse anesthetists and year‑round nurse practitioners to secure enough federal aid.
New Loan Caps and the Professional Label
Under the proposed rules, graduate programs that the Department labels “professional” would allow students to borrow up to $200,000 in total and up to $50,000 per year. In contrast, other graduate programs would be capped at $100,000 in total and $20,500 per year. Historically, graduate students could borrow the full cost of their programs. The omission of nursing from the professional list would apply the lower caps to a field that already carries high tuition, according to the lawmakers.
Why Nursing Matters
The letter argues that a $100,000 total cap and a $20,500 annual cap would make it harder for students to pay for expensive programs. “Programs for certified nurse anesthetists can cost more than $200,000, but typically pay off and supply a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher‑cost physicians do not practice,” the lawmakers wrote. The letter also notes that many nurse‑practitioner programs run year‑round, charging for three terms a year, and often exceed the $20,500 annual limit.
The Department replied that 95 % of nursing students are enrolled in programs that would not be affected by the new caps. The reply was brief and did not address the specific concerns about high‑cost specialties.
The Letter and Its Signatories
The bipartisan letter was signed by more than 140 members of Congress, including 12 Republicans. It was sent by Senate leaders of the nursing caucuses—Sen. Jeff Merkley (D‑Ore.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R‑Miss.)—and House leaders—Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D‑Ore.) and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R‑Va.). Another Democrat, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, sent a similar letter earlier in the week. Torres warned that excluding nurses would force students to take riskier private loans or make tuition unaffordable. “A restrictive interpretation would undermine our healthcare and education systems, weaken our workforce, and close doors for low‑income, first‑generation, and immigrant students who make up much of my district,” Torres said.
Department’s Rationale and Possible Changes
The Department’s definition of a professional degree was based on a 1965 law that lists examples but is not exhaustive. The Trump administration adopted the examples it found in that law—pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, theology, and clinical psychology—as the only fields that would receive the higher loan limits. Nursing, physical therapy, and social work were left out, prompting backlash from the groups that represent those professions.
The Department has indicated that the proposal could be revised during the federal rulemaking process, but it has not yet announced any changes. The new caps are justified by the administration as a way to pressure colleges to reduce tuition prices.
Key Takeaways
- The bipartisan letter seeks to reclassify nursing as a “professional” degree to maintain higher federal loan limits.
- Current caps would restrict nursing students in high‑cost specialties, such as nurse anesthetists and year‑round nurse practitioners.
- The Department notes that most nursing programs would not be affected, but has not addressed the concerns about expensive specialties.
The debate highlights a clash between congressional lawmakers who view nursing as a professional field and the administration’s effort to tighten federal student‑loan limits. The outcome will shape the financial future of thousands of students pursuing advanced nursing degrees.
