In recent weeks, many of you have raised thoughtful questions about the proposed federal changes to student loan programs and eligibility, particularly the Department of Education’s (ED) designation of academic programs as graduate or professional degrees, thereby establishing loan limits based on the degree designation.1,2
Understandably, these conversations have created confusion and concern among those preparing for advanced nursing roles as nurse practitioners (NPs), nurse executives, nurse educators, clinical leaders and doctoral-level scholars.
If you are considering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate (PG-C), it’s natural to feel uneasy. As a fellow nurse and nurse educator, I’m here to help unpack what’s being discussed, what it might mean moving forward and why our profession remains strong throughout this process.
Most students will feel far less impact than the headlines suggest, and you’ll have full support, from financial aid to enrollment guidance, throughout this process. Our profession isn’t defined by a federal policy term, and neither is your future in it.
I want to provide clarity: what is changing, what is not changing and why nursing remains a profession in every ethical, academic, regulatory and societal sense.
What future students are worried about
From my conversations with prospective students, two main concerns keep coming up:
- Reduced access to graduate education
Students worry that lower federal loan caps that could go into effect for graduate nursing students beginning July 1, 2026, could make it harder to finance advanced degrees or potentially increase reliance on private loans with higher interest rates.1
- Perceived loss of professional status
Some are interpreting the ED’s terminology as suggesting nursing isn’t a profession. That misunderstanding has created a ripple effect: students feel financially uncertain and professionally undervalued.
We understand that these worries can influence whether you decide to pursue a graduate nursing program. Let’s clear the air.
What the potential designation means
The ED’s designation has nothing to do with whether nursing is a profession and is not a judgment about its status, importance or rigor. The term professional degree is an administrative category used to determine loan limits under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act.1,2
Since 1965, this category has included medicine, dentistry, law, veterinary medicine and similar disciplines.3 Under the proposed revised guidance, master’s and doctoral nursing programs were not explicitly designated as professional degrees, raising concerns that the amount of federal loan access for MSN, DNP and PG-C students might be affected.
Graduate nursing programs have changed a lot since 1965, when the professional degree category was first defined for fields like medicine and law. Today, advanced nursing programs such as MSN, DNP and PG-C are key pathways for students pursuing advanced practice and leadership roles. For example, since the 1960s, NPs have played a vital role in providing primary care in the U.S.4
Several comments were submitted by organizations, nurse educators, graduate students and others in response to the draft regulations.5 A final rule has not yet been issued following the close of the public comment period on March 2, 2026.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has emphasized that “limiting nurses’ access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care.”6
In February 2026, ANA formally submitted its official comment letter and called on the U.S. Department of Education to classify post-baccalaureate nursing programs, like MSN, DNP, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) and PhD in Nursing degrees as “professional” degrees as it implements federal graduate student loan provisions under the OBBB Act. This change would help ensure that nursing students in these advanced programs can access higher federal loan limits, making it more feasible to pursue the education needed for critical roles in healthcare.7
ANA warns that limiting federal loan access could reduce entry into graduate nursing programs and worsen the national nursing shortage. Advanced practice nurses and faculty are essential to growing the workforce, and equitable loan support is key to strengthening the nurse pipeline and preparing the next generation of highly trained professionals.7
National organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and ANA, continue to advocate for policies that support access to graduate nursing education.6,7,8,9
Sarah M. I. Cartwright, DNP, RN, NI-BC, CAPA, FASPAN
Associate Dean, School of Nursing
Graduate nursing education strengthens the workforce
Advanced nursing education isn’t optional for advanced nursing practice, and it’s essential to the health and well-being of our nation. It’s the pathway that prepares:
- Nurse practitioners to deliver safe, competent and equitable primary care
- Nurse executives to lead complex health systems
- Nurse educators to teach the next generation of nurses
- DNP-prepared clinicians and scholars to turn evidence into practice, lead improvements in care and strengthen healthcare and academic systems
NPs comprise about 47% of all U.S. primary care clinicians and often provide care in communities where no other provider is readily available.4 Limiting financial access to these degrees threatens the pipeline at a time when the U.S. needs more advanced practice nurses, not fewer.
However, early financial aid data suggest that about 95%, the majority of graduate nursing students, historically do not hit the current federal borrowing caps.1 So, while the classification matters symbolically and structurally, the financial impact may be far less widespread than it initially appears.
Still, students deserve clarity, consistency and reassurance.
Nursing is a profession
At its core, this policy discussion touches something deeper: Our sense of professional identity and how society values nursing. The nursing profession defines itself through ethics, licensure, accreditation and public trust.
Our ethical framework and commitment to social responsibility are grounded in the ANA Code of Ethics.10
Our professional competence and accountability are built on ANA’s measurable standards, peer review, certification and lifelong professional development.10
Our credentialing structure—degrees, licensure, national certification and specialization—is recognized by health systems across the country.11 Graduate nursing degrees are also tied to mandated competencies and state and national regulations, reflecting decades of evidence demonstrating safe, high-quality patient care.
The federal government changing a label in a loan chart does not, and cannot, change any of that.
What happens next?
As conversations continue at the national level, know that you are not navigating this alone. At the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), we are here to support current and prospective students.
Things are still evolving, and we’ll keep you updated as they do. You can stay informed and advocate for education through ANA and AACN.
If you have questions or need support
We understand the financial challenges of graduate nursing education. Our programs are designed for working nurses, with grants and support to help you advance in practice, leadership or academics. Our enrollment team is here to provide guidance as you plan your advanced nursing path.
USAHS’ Financial Aid team is available to support current and prospective students. They can walk you through how these proposed changes might affect your individual plan of study and what options are available to you right now. We’ve also shared a financial aid update and some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the federal financial aid changes.
You are entering a profession, and nothing has changed that
Nursing remains one of the most trusted professions. Health systems rely on graduate-prepared nurses to treat patients, lead teams, improve quality and shape the future of healthcare. Communities depend on the expertise and compassion nurses bring. The public trusts nurses to deliver quality care.
You matter, and your professional identity is not defined by federal terminology. A label can’t rewrite the truth or pride of our profession.
Sincerely,
Sarah M. I. Cartwright, DNP, RN, NI-BC, CAPA, FASPAN
Associate Dean, School of Nursing
Sources
- “Myth vs. Fact: The Definition of Professional Degrees,” U.S. Department of Education (ED), November 24, 2025, https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/myth-vs-fact-definition-of-professional-degrees.
- “Loan Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Brief for Campus Leadership,” The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), March 9, 2026, https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/documents/OB3_Loan_Changes_Brief.pdf.
- “Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, § 668.2 General definitions,” U.S. Department of Education (ED), October 31, 2025, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-668/subpart-A/section-668.2.
- Flinter, M. and McCann, J., “Investing in Primary Care: The Nurse Practitioner Will See You Now,” Millbank Memorial Fund, October 2025, https://www.milbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NPs_Investing-in-Primary-Care_final-1.pdf.
- “Reimagining and Improving Student Education, Document Comments” Department of Education, 2026, https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2025-OPE-0944-0001/comment.
- “Statement from the American Nurses Association on Proposed Federal Loan Policy Changes,” American Nurses Association (ANA), November 10, 2025, https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2025/statement-from-the-american-nurses-association-on-proposed-federal-loan-policy-changes/.
- “American Nurses Association Submits Formal Comments to U.S Department of Education on Graduate Student Loan Rulemaking ,” American Nurses Association (ANA), February 26, 2026, https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2026-news-releases/american-nurses-association-submits-formal-comments-to-u.s-department-of-education-on-graduate-student-loan-rulemaking.
- “AACN Alarmed Over Department of Education’s Proposed Limitation of Student Loan Access for Nursing,” American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), November 7, 2025, https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/aacn-alarmed-over-department-of-educations-proposed-limitation-of-student-loan-access-for-nursing.
- “Nursing loses ‘professional’ status in education policy: What does this mean?” Advisory Board, December 3, 2025, https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2025/12/03/nursing-degree-ec.
- “What is the Code of Ethics for Nurses?” American Nurses Association (ANA), 2025, https://codeofethics.ana.org.
- “About ANCC,” American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/about-ancc.
