President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced important changes to federal student loans for graduate programs. The aim? To help lower the cost of graduate education and reduce the debt burden on students.
Graduate students take out more than half of all new federal student loans, contributing to the staggering total of $1.7 trillion in federal student debt. The Act sets limits on loans for certain programs. For many professional degrees—like Medicine, Dentistry, and Law—the borrowing limit is set at $200,000. For other graduate programs, the cap is $100,000.
Recently, some concerns arose over the classification of nursing degrees. Let’s clear up the confusion. There’s a misconception that the Trump Administration doesn’t regard nurses as professionals since nursing isn’t included as a “professional degree.” However, this classification is a technical distinction for loan eligibility, not a judgment on the profession itself.
Here’s the truth: According to data from the Department of Education, 95% of nursing students borrow less than the new annual loan limits. This means the majority aren’t impacted. Additionally, these loan limits could encourage nursing programs to lower their tuition costs, making education more affordable.
It’s also essential to note that these changes only apply to graduate programs. Most of the nursing workforce—about 80%—holds a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, which aren’t affected by these new limits.
Another myth circulating is that the Department of Education made these decisions without input from the public. In reality, a negotiating committee, including various education stakeholders, provided feedback on these loan limit changes. The public will have another chance to comment as the department finalizes its rules.
There’s concern that tuition rates might rise due to these limits. Yet, since 2007, graduate students could borrow the full cost of attendance, which allowed colleges to raise tuition significantly. The Act’s new caps are stepping in to manage these inflated prices, helping prevent students from facing burdensome debt.
This is especially important now, as discussions around educational affordability and student loans are more relevant than ever. A recent survey by the Federal Reserve shows that nearly 40% of Americans feel that student debt is a significant issue—impacting everything from home buying to starting a family.
Understanding these changes can help clarify the impact on education and student debt. For nursing students, the outlook remains positive, as they largely remain unaffected by the new regulations. It’s crucial to keep informed and recognize the ongoing conversation about education funding in our society.
