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New Student Loan Rule Could Dissuade People From Advanced Nursing Degrees

Starting on July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education would cap graduate borrowing at $20,500 per year and $100,000 total, excluding advanced practice registered nurses from higher limits.
The law eliminated the Grad PLUS student loan program and revised the professional degree category to exclude advanced practice nursing, prompting the U.S. Department of Education to restructure borrowing limits.
Workforce data reveal the nursing workforce is strained: 138,000 registered nurses have left since 2022 and more than 2,100 nursing faculty vacancies led to over 65,000 qualified applicants denied admission in 2023.
Nursing leaders urged reversal and hope public pressure will prompt changes as the Department of Education rebutted protests last week and said it may revise the rule after public comments, while advocates warn nurses facing private loan choices risk losing federal forgiveness.
With BLS projecting an extra 134,000 APRNs over the next decade, excluding advanced nursing from loan caps risks shrinking training pipelines vital to rural and underserved communities, where CRNAs provide 80% of anesthesia care.

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Stein urges feds to reverse nursing student loan cuts, citing shortage of nurses

Gov. Josh Stein is pressuring the U.S. Department of Education to reverse a November decision, tied to the "One Big Beautiful Bill," that would lower student loan limits for advanced nursing programs beginning in July.

7 days ago·Raleigh, United States

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