The U.S. Department of Education has removed nursing from its list of recognized “professional degree” programs, a move that may have significant implications for students, schools, and the future of the nursing workforce. As part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, signed into law on July 4, 2025, graduate nursing students may be subject to lower federal loan limits than those in fields like medicine, pharmacy, or law, which are still on the professional degree list. The loan changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
