DoED Responds To Nurses With Fact Sheet Clarifying Professional Degree Definitions

Widespread concern spread quickly through the nursing community this week after news coverage circulated that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) had removed nursing as a professional degree under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In a newly released fact sheet, ED directly addressed how nursing programs will be classified under the new graduate loan limits.

Under the Act, certain graduate programs—such as Medicine (M.D.), Dentistry (D.D.S./D.M.D.), Law (J.D./L.L.B.), and a handful of other high-cost degrees—will qualify for a higher federal loan limit of $200,000. All other graduate and doctoral programs, including nursing, will fall under a $100,000 limit.

This distinction alarmed many nurses and nursing students, but the Department emphasized that the terminology is purely administrative.

ED: “Not a Value Judgment About Nurses”

In response to concerns that the change reflects how the Trump Administration views the profession, ED wrote:

“The definition of a ‘professional degree’ is an internal definition used by the Department to distinguish among programs that qualify for higher loan limits, not a value judgement about the importance of programs.”
“It has no bearing on whether a program is professional in nature or not.”

Myth vs. Fact: What Nurses Need to Know

The Department’s statement includes several key clarifications aimed directly at the nursing community.

Myth #1: Nurses will have a harder time securing federal student loans.

Fact: According to ED data, 95% of nursing students already borrow below the new annual loan limit, meaning most students will not be affected.

The agency further argues that the cap could ultimately benefit nurses:

“Placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce their program costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.”

ED also emphasized that undergraduate nursing programs—including BSN and ADN pathways—are not affected by these changes. Since 80% of the nursing workforce does not hold a graduate degree, the Department states the new limits will not impact the majority of nurses.

Myth #2: The Department excluded nursing programs unilaterally.

Fact: ED stresses that the public has been involved in the decision-making process:

“The Department solicited feedback from the public and hosted a negotiated rulemaking committee…which included a broad range of higher education stakeholders.”

The agency notes that because the committee reached unanimous agreement on the definition of “professional degree,” they are required to publish that language in the proposed rule. However:

“The Department has not prejudged the rulemaking process and may make changes in response to public comments.”

A final rule is expected early next year.

Myth #3: These changes will cause tuition to rise.

Fact: ED argues the opposite.

Since 2007, graduate students have been allowed to borrow up to the full cost of attendance—something the Department says encouraged institutions to increase tuition dramatically, even in fields with “modest earnings potential.”

The agency states:

“The Act’s annual federal loan caps are already reining in inflated prices at graduate programs across the country.”

What This Means for Nurses

While the Department of Education’s reclassification has sparked frustration and confusion, the agency insists that nurses are not being de-professionalized, nor are most nursing students likely to lose access to needed federal loans.

Still, nursing organizations are closely monitoring the rulemaking process, and ED has confirmed that the public will have another opportunity to submit comments before the rule is finalized.

For now, nursing students considering graduate education—particularly NP, CRNA, MSN, and DNP pathways—should stay informed as details continue to evolve.

🤔Nurses, share your thoughts below.