A new federal policy that applies higher student loan caps only to designated professional degrees has excluded nursing graduate programs, prompting strong concern across the nursing field. Industry leaders warn that the change could delay graduation for many students and force others to abandon their degree plans altogether. The revised rules cap nursing graduate loan limits at $20,500 per year and $100,000 total.
Lower loan limits could deter nursing students
Under the new Department of Education guidelines, nursing graduate programs are not classified as professional degrees. Therefore, students in these programs face significantly lower borrowing limits than their peers in medicine or dentistry. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average annual cost of nursing graduate school exceeds $30,000. As a result, experts say many students may not be able to cover tuition even before accounting for living expenses.
Sarah Ko, president of the Korean American Nurses Association of Southern California, called the policy “devastating” for current and prospective students. She said reduced borrowing capacity will push students toward high-interest private loans or force them to work more hours. Consequently, she warned, many will graduate later or drop out entirely. Students from economically vulnerable families, she noted, may be hit hardest, reducing diversity within nursing programs.
Ripple effects on advanced practice programs
Ko said the impact will extend to advanced practice programs such as the Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) tracks. If fewer students enter these programs, she warned, critical fields already facing shortages — including mental health, primary care, and geriatric medicine — will see longer wait times for patients. In addition, existing NPs will shoulder more responsibilities, which could further strain access to care.
Faculty shortages may also worsen. A report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found 1,977 full-time faculty vacancies nationwide in the 2023–24 academic year, representing about 7.8 percent of all nurse faculty positions. The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimates that more than 80,000 qualified nursing applicants are turned away each year because schools lack faculty and clinical training capacity. Since faculty roles require graduate degrees, reduced enrollment could shrink the pipeline of future educators.
Nursing organizations push back
The ANA recently launched a petition titled “Nursing is a Professional Degree,” which has already garnered more than 200,000 signatures. In a statement, ANA President Jennifer S. Mensik Kennedy said the loan cap creates a “direct barrier” to training advanced practice registered nurses. She emphasized that in many communities, basic healthcare services depend on NPs, nurse anesthetists, and midwives.
Kennedy also warned that worsening faculty shortages will leave the U.S. facing a broader educational gap if the new loan caps discourage students from pursuing graduate study.
Federal response and possibility of revisions
The Department of Education has said the rule will have limited effect because 95 percent of nursing graduate students already borrow within the existing limits. It added that loan restrictions are part of a broader effort to curb rising tuition.
However, nursing organizations argue that hands-on clinical education is inherently costly and cannot be reduced without compromising quality. They also warn that signaling nursing as a non-professional field could dampen morale within the workforce.
The new standards are set to take effect in July of next year. However, the department noted that final regulations may be adjusted after the public comment period.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
