Poll: 59% of Nurses ‘Less Likely’ to Seek Graduate Degree Because of DoED Loan Policy

When the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to reclassify nursing so it no longer counts as a “professional degree”—effectively reducing federal loan limits for graduate nursing programs—nurses across the country responded swiftly. In response, the DOE released a fact sheet, while the ANA started a petition calling for the decision to be reversed.

After reading Nurse.org’s coverage of the policy change, more than 1,550 nurses participated in a poll* about the potential change to help us better understand how this decision affects their plans and the profession.

Here’s what they told us.

59% of Nurses Say They’re Now “Less Likely” to Pursue a Graduate Degree

When asked whether the proposed federal loan limit reductions would affect their decision to pursue graduate education:

• 59% said they are less likely
• 10% said they are more likely
• 9% said they’re unsure
• 22% already have a graduate degree

The concern is clear: many nurses who would traditionally fill the APRN, CRNA, NP, and educator pipeline say this new policy could stop them from advancing their careers.

Which Nurses Are “Less Likely” to Pursue Graduate School?

Among nurses who shared their license/degree type, the group that said they’re less likely to pursue graduate education included:

• RN (BSN): 37%
• RN (ADN): 17%
• MSN: 13%
• LPN: 11%
• Nursing student: 5%
• RN (Diploma): 3%
• PhD-prepared nurses: 3%
• DNP-prepared nurses: 2%
• CNA: 2%
• N/A or none of the above: 9%

The majority of nurses who say they’re now discouraged are RNs with BSN or ADN degrees—the population most likely to become future APRNs or nurse educators.

Nurses’ #1 Concern: The Message This Sends About the Value of Nursing

When asked, “What concerns you MOST about this change?” nurses chose:

• Negative message about the value of nursing as a profession: 43%
• Fewer nurses entering advanced/practitioner roles: 22%
• Reduced ability to take out student loans / higher personal debt burden: 20%
• Less diversity in nursing: 12%
• Other: 2%

Among nurses who indicated their license/degree type, those who selected “Negative message about the value of nursing as a profession” included:

• MSNs: 30%
• RNs (BSN): 29%
• RNs (ADN): 14%
• LPNs: 6%
• DNPs: 6%
• Nursing students: 4%
• N/A or none: 4%
• PhD-prepared nurses: 3%
• RN (Diploma): 3%
• CNAs: 1%

The takeaway: nurses at every level—from ADN-prepared RNs to PhDs—feel this policy diminishes the profession.

What “Other” Nurses Said in Their Own Words

Though a handful of nurses wrote-in “all of the above” about their concerns, others raised concerns not captured fully in the poll options:

• On the cost and accessibility of graduate education: “Fewer nurses pursuing PhD degrees as they require longer time commitments and cost more over time.”
• On the complexity of the issue: “I see the reasoning of the DoED because the cost is far too high.”
• On diversity and workforce impact: “Less availability of student loans for underprivileged persons… fewer graduate-level nurses being trained each year… and compounding the existing workforce crisis.”
• On faculty shortages: “Limited nursing instructors.”
• On distrust and misinformation: “Media lying about what the bill does” and “The negative political myths being presented. I’m tired of the one-sided lies.”
• On program costs and worsening shortages: “Programs will not reduce their costs. Shortages will just increase.”
• Outlier sentiment: “Nothing at all. Graduate nurses are parasites on society.”

These responses illustrate the mix of frustration, distrust, and deep concern many nurses feel about the policy and its potential ripple effects.

What This Means for Nursing’s Future

The data is clear:

• Nearly 60% of nurses say they’re less likely to pursue graduate education as a result of the policy change, threatening the future workforce of APRNs, CRNAs, NPs, CNMs, nurse educators, and PhD-prepared nurse scientists.
• Nurses fear the message this policy sends, and many worry it signals that advanced nursing education is not valued.
• Concerns about debt, diversity, and access point to broader issues that could reshape the profession for years to come.

Nurses remain strong advocates for themselves and their patients—and this poll shows they’re ready to push back when policies threaten the future of nursing education.

Nurse.org will continue covering the federal actions, community response, and how this decision may shape nursing’s future.

🤔 Nurses, what do you think about these poll results? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.

 

* Summary results from poll of 1,552 nurses conducted on Nurse.org from November 27 to December 1, 2025.