Under President Trump’s New Bill, Nursing is No Longer Considered a ‘Professional’ Degree
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Donald-Trump-Oval-Office-112225-628a71774f2646dc8009c35c12c67318.jpg)
President Donald Trump’s administration has recently caused outrage within the nursing community by making significant changes to federal student loan-related policies. Nursing is no longer classified as a “professional” degree in the eyes of the Trump administration, alongside the elimination of Grad PLUS loans for graduate and professional students. These changes have sparked concern and disapproval from various nursing organisations who fear for the impact this will have on students seeking post-baccalaureate nursing degrees.
The alterations, introduced by the U.S. Department of Education under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” have prompted several organisations to express their discontent over the redefinition of nursing as a non-professional degree. The changes have raised worries about how students, particularly those pursuing advanced nursing degrees, will now be able to fund their education. The department’s decision to redefine professional degrees and eliminate the Grad PLUS loan program, which assists students with education-related expenses not covered by other financial aid, has shifted the landscape for many aspiring healthcare professionals.
According to reports from the U.S. Department of Education, the changes will take effect in the upcoming summer, impacting the borrowing limits for graduate and professional students. The revisions aim to cap annual loans for new borrowers at $20,500 for graduate students and $50,000 for professional students, limiting the aggregate loan amounts available. The Department of Education highlighted that these changes were necessary to address the issue of unsustainable student loan borrowing, particularly in graduate programs with poor return on investment.
The new definition of professional degrees under these changes no longer encompasses nursing post-baccalaureate programs, affecting students aspiring to become nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physical therapists. The exclusion of nursing from this category will result in students facing stricter borrowing limitations and altered federal loan structures. The modifications to the definition stem from a 1965 federal law, signifying a departure from longstanding policies in federal education funding.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, President of the American Nurses Association, expressed concerns over the impact these changes will have on the nursing workforce, especially amid an existing shortage. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has also issued a statement urging Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent to reconsider the exclusion of nursing from the professional degree category. The AACN emphasised the detrimental effects these changes could have on an already strained nursing workforce.
In response to backlash over the revisions, the Department of Education’s press secretary for higher education, Ellen Keast, dismissed reports of the situation as “fake news.” Keast defended the department’s decision by stating that the definition of professional degrees had been consistent for decades and aligned with historical standards. She emphasised that adjustments were made in collaboration with higher education institutions to ensure transparency and fairness in the federal loan programs.
The controversy surrounding these changes reflects a broader debate over the future of healthcare education and student financial aid under the current administration. As nursing organisations continue to voice their concerns and push for reconsideration of the new policies, the impact on aspiring healthcare professionals remains uncertain. The evolving landscape of federal student loans and professional degrees underscores the challenges faced by students pursuing careers in essential healthcare fields, raising questions about accessibility and affordability in higher education.