Oregon – More than 150 members of Congress are urging the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider proposed changes to federal student loan rules that they say could deepen the nation’s nursing shortage.
In a bipartisan public comment, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, along with U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans of Virginia and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, led 160 lawmakers in opposing a plan that would reclassify post-baccalaureate nursing degrees. The proposal would remove those degrees from the “professional degree” category and instead treat them as “graduate degrees” for federal loan purposes.
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Lawmakers argue that shift would significantly reduce how much nursing students can borrow. Under current law, students in professional degree programs may borrow up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 total. Graduate students, however, are capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in total borrowing.
If adopted, the change would apply to advanced nursing degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Ph.D. in nursing. The bipartisan group wrote that excluding these programs from the professional category “will make it harder for nursing students to access the loans that they need.”
The issue comes at a time when the nursing workforce is under strain. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, more than 138,000 nurses have left the profession since 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement. By 2029, nearly 40 percent of nurses say they intend to leave the workforce. Lawmakers warn that tightening loan limits now could discourage new nurses from pursuing advanced degrees, including those required for advanced practice registered nurses.
They also contend that post-baccalaureate nursing programs meet the existing federal definition of a professional degree, which includes completion of academic requirements for entry into practice and professional licensure beyond the bachelor’s level. Advanced practice registered nurses must earn graduate degrees and obtain national certification and state licensure to practice.
The comment letter further criticizes the department’s interpretation that excludes professions requiring supervisory agreements under state law. Lawmakers say that reasoning goes beyond how Congress defined professional degrees and imposes limits that were not part of prior discussions.
Survey data cited in the letter underscores the financial stakes. In one recent survey, 81 percent of nursing students said the $100,000 aggregate loan cap for graduate programs would negatively affect their ability to finance their education. Another survey found that 82 percent said the $20,500 annual limit would be harmful. Students reported average annual program costs of about $38,500.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist programs, which can exceed $200,000 in total cost, were highlighted as especially vulnerable. Lawmakers noted that 75 percent of surveyed nurses said CRNA education would no longer be financially feasible under the new caps.
The public comment is backed by 60 national organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Nurses Association, and the National League for Nursing. The lawmakers concluded that, amid ongoing health care workforce shortages, advanced nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited health profession programs.
Full text of their bipartisan comment can be found by clicking HERE.
