Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.

New student loan rule could dissuade people from advanced nursing degrees

Zoe Clarke became a hospital registered nurse two and a half years ago, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother.

Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.

RICHMOND, Va. University of Virginia graduate nursing student Nelly Sekyere worries that proposed federal loan cuts could prevent future students like herself from pursuing advanced nursing degrees that are helpful in filling shortages in underserved communities.Sekyere's parents moved to the United States from Ghana to pursue the American Dream. They worked hourly wage jobs to support their two kids and ultimately became licensed practical nurs…

Nursing is no Longer a Professional Degree

Photo from Pexels.com A landmark shift by the U.S. Department of Education has removed graduate nursing programs from its definition of “professional degree,” fundamentally altering how federal student loan limits apply. A Shift in Borrowing Power Photo from Pexels.com Under the new policy, graduate nursing students are reclassified as general graduate students, subject to lower federal borrowing limits. Starting July 1, 2026, they will be cappe…