A new federal rule could make nursing school harder to afford. Here’s why
Graduate nursing students could soon find it harder to pay for school under a new federal rule that limits how much they can borrow.
The U.S. Department of Education is redefining which degrees count as “professional,” and nursing didn’t make the list.
The change would give some fields, such as law and medicine, higher loan caps while setting lower limits for programs like nursing, social work and physical therapy.
The decision is part of the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a broad overhaul of the federal student loan system, and it could make advanced nursing degrees more expensive to pursue.
Here’s what to know.
What exactly is changing for nursing students?
Starting July 1, 2026, new federal borrowing limits will take effect for graduate students.
Those in fields considered “professional,” such as medicine, law or dentistry, will continue to qualify for higher loan caps.
But students in programs that fall outside that list, including nursing, social work, education and physical therapy, will face stricter limits on how much they can borrow each year.
Graduate students in these fields will be capped at $20,500 per year, with a lifetime borrowing limit of $100,000. By contrast, students in “professional” programs will be allowed up to $50,000 per year, with a $200,000 lifetime limit.
The rule would also eliminate Grad PLUS loans, which currently allow students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance.
Why is this happening?
The Department of Education said the updated loan caps are meant to reduce student debt and encourage universities to lower tuition costs.
Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a statement the change “will benefit borrowers who will no longer be pushed into insurmountable debt to finance degrees that do not pay off.”
Officials also said the “professional degree” classification is used only to determine borrowing limits, not to question the value or importance of nursing as a field.
Still, many nursing groups, including the American Nurses Association (ANA), warn that excluding nursing from the professional degree list could worsen the nation’s ongoing nurse shortage and unintentionally make graduate education less accessible.
The group said limiting funding for advanced nursing programs “threatens the very foundation of patient care.”
Who will be most affected?
Undergraduate students will not see any changes. But the new limits will directly impact graduate and doctoral students’ training to become nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, or nursing educators.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, graduate nursing programs can cost more than $30,000 per year, meaning some students could hit the new borrowing cap before finishing their degree.
The Department of Education estimates that about 95% of nursing students borrow less than $20,500 annually, but for specialized or advanced programs, that may not cover full costs.
Students in public health, social work, and physician assistant programs could face similar challenges.
What happens next?
Since the Department of Education’s announcement, the ANA has gathered more than 200,000 signatures on a petition urging federal officials to include nursing in the professional degree category.
The Department of Education said the public will still have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal before it’s finalized.
For those who could be affected, there are still some ways to prepare. According to higher education experts, students may be able to:
- Apply for private loans to cover additional costs
- Look for scholarships or fellowships, particularly those targeting nursing and health care fields.
- Pursue work-study or graduate assistant positions to help offset tuition.
The new rule will apply only to new borrowers beginning in or after July 2026. Current students with existing federal loans will not lose their terms or benefits.
