WEEKLY UPDATE: 12/04/25
The U.S. Department of Education is pursuing a proposal that would restrict federal student loan borrowing for many seeking post-graduate training in healthcare professions by excluding essential clinical and social services fields from the agency’s new definition of “professional” programs.
The agency’s proposal — which, in part, identifies a narrow set of degrees that qualify for higher federal lending limits — stems from sweeping changes to federal student loan borrowing signed into law under H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Effective July 2026, H.R.1’s student lending provisions cap annual loans for new borrowers at $20,500 for graduate students ($100,000 aggregate limit), and $50,000 for professional students ($200,000 aggregate limit). Graduate PLUS loans, which previously allowed students to borrow up to their total cost of attendance, will be eliminated.
As required by H.R.1, the Education Department released its proposed list of “professional degree” programs last month. The classification excludes nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, public health, and other valuable clinical and social services fields — meaning, if the agency’s proposal is finalized, students pursuing master’s, doctorate, and other advanced degrees in excluded healthcare fields would be limited to borrowing $20,500 a year and up to $100,000 to complete the program.
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) wrote the following statement in response to the federal loan limits and eligibility changes:
“Our nation is facing a critical healthcare workforce shortage. In this moment, we must all focus on strengthening recruitment, expanding access to education, and supporting attainable pathways into healthcare careers — not creating barriers. Lowering loan caps for high-demand clinical fields undermines efforts to grow the workforce and shows a troubling lack of vision for the future of care. Instead of lifting up essential professions, it sends a discouraging message to many practicing and aspiring providers, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, critical roles in the rehabilitation services (including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy), pediatric providers, and others at the heart of care delivery. These policy changes will only make it harder to build and sustain the workforce that patients will rely on in the future.”
The Education Department named only 11 fields the agency says meet the requirements to be considered professional and thus eligible for higher lending caps: Pharmacy (Pharm. D.), Dentistry doctorate (D.D.S. or D.M.S.), Veterinary medicine (D.V.M.), Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.), Law (L.L.B. or J.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Optometry (O.D.), Osteopathic medicine (D.O.), Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.), Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.), and Clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.).
The Department of Education is expected to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the coming weeks, opening a 30-day public comment period. CHA will continue to advocate for policies that grow and support the healthcare workforce.
Click here to read a statement from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).
Click here to read a statement from the American Nurses Association.
