The U.S. Department of Education has sparked major nationwide controversy after removing nursing from the federal list of “professional degree” programs under new rules tied to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. The updated classification, which will influence how graduate students access federal loans, has triggered outrage from nurses, universities, and healthcare organizations who warn it could deepen America’s ongoing nurse shortage.

The measure comes as federal officials finalize sweeping changes to the student loan system, including new repayment rules, limits on borrowing, and the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program.

Why Nursing Was Removed: The Policy Shift

Under the revised definition, the Department of Education categorized only a specific group of fields as “professional programs,” including:

• Medicine
  
• Pharmacy
  
• Dentistry
  
• Optometry
  
• Law
  
• Veterinary Medicine
  
• Osteopathic Medicine
  
• Chiropractic
  
• Theology
  
• Clinical Psychology
  

Notably excluded were:

• Nursing
  
• Nurse Practitioners
  
• Physician Assistants
  
• Physical Therapists
  
• Audiologists
  

The Department insists this is not a new policy. In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson argued that the definition reflects long-standing precedent and accused critics of “spreading misinformation.”

Why It Matters: A Nationwide Impact on Nurses

More than 260,000 students are currently enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, with another 42,000 in Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs. By excluding nursing from the professional degree category, federal officials effectively reduce the amount nursing students can borrow for advanced degrees such as:

• MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)
  
• DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
  
• Ph.D. in Nursing
  

Experts warn the consequences could be severe.

According to Johns Hopkins professor Olga Yakusheva, restricting loan access will limit the number of nurses who can pursue advanced practice, leadership roles, or academic careers. This could shrink the pipeline of qualified instructors, reduce program capacity, and leave the U.S. with even fewer new nurses entering the workforce.

Reaction From the Nursing Community

The response from nurses and healthcare leaders has been swift and intense.

Many frontline nurses say the decision devalues their expertise. One nurse with over a decade of trauma experience posted online about owing more than $200,000 in student loans, only to learn that her profession is no longer recognized at the same level as other medical fields.

Experts argue that nursing is foundational to the American healthcare system. The American Nurses Association called the decision “dangerously shortsighted,” warning that it could worsen the already severe national nursing shortage.

Patricia (Polly) Pittman, a leading health workforce scholar, described the policy as a “gut punch to nursing,” stressing that education is the single most critical factor in keeping nurses in the profession especially in rural and underserved communities.

Broader Healthcare Consequences

If fewer nurses can afford graduate-level training:

• Primary care shortages may increase
  
• Physicians may face heavier workloads
  
• Patients may encounter longer wait times
  
• The U.S. may rely more on foreign-trained nurses
  
• Educational institutions may face staffing crises
  

Experts say that restricting access to advanced nursing degrees pulls critical support away from hospitals, clinics, and nursing schools.

What Happens Next

According to New America, the new loan rules including the redefined list of professional degree programs will officially take effect July 1, 2026.

Until then, nursing associations, academic institutions, and healthcare advocates are preparing to lobby for changes, urging the Department of Education to recognize the essential nature of nursing in the U.S. healthcare system.