- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:44 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A major policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration has sparked concern across several academic and professional circles, after the Department of Education moved forward with a definition of “professional degree” that excludes a wide range of long-recognised fields—including nursing.
The reclassification, tied to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), could substantially alter how graduate students finance their education, especially as high-cost programs lose access to traditionally higher borrowing limits.
The updated definition leans heavily on an older federal description dating back to 1965, which recognises fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, theology, and law as “professional”—but leaves out disciplines like nursing, physical therapy, accounting, education, social work, and architecture.
Why The Change Matters For Students
Under the new funding framework, the administration plans to dismantle Grad PLUS loans, historically used by students pursuing intensive training programs. In its place, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will cap loan amounts based on whether a degree qualifies as “professional.”
• Professional degree students: Up to USD 50,000 per year and USD 200,000 total
• All other graduate students: Capped at $20,500 per year, with a $100,000 program maximum
For students in graduate nursing programs, or in fields such as occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, architecture, and accounting, this could mean significantly reduced financial support beginning July 1, 2026. Higher education experts warn that the new limits could deter students from entering careers that already face workforce shortages, particularly in healthcare and social services.
Nursing Groups Raise Alarm Over Funding Restrictions
National nursing organisations have been among the most vocal critics. In a letter to the Department of Education, American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy warned that excluding nursing from the professional category would “severely restrict access to critical graduate nursing education funding” at a time when the US healthcare system is grappling with historic staffing shortages.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) echoed this concern, arguing that professional recognition is essential to supporting the next generation of advanced practice nurses. AACN has also launched a petition urging federal officials to revise the definition before the new student loan limits take effect.
Degrees Excluded From ‘Professional’ Status
• Nursing
• Physician assistant programs
• Physical therapy
• Audiology
• Architecture
• Accounting
• Education
• Social work
Fields Still Recognised as Professional Degrees
• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Law
• Veterinary medicine
• Osteopathic medicine
• Podiatry
• Chiropractic
• Theology
• Clinical psychology
For now, students planning graduate studies in 2026 and beyond are being advised to closely review how their intended programs are classified, as the distinction between “professional” and “non-professional” will directly shape their financial options for years to come.
