A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the U.S. Department of Education to classify advanced nursing degrees as “professional degrees,” warning that a proposed student aid rule could limit access to nursing education and worsen the nation’s healthcare workforce shortage.
Under the proposed framework, post-baccalaureate nursing programs would be categorized as graduate degrees rather than professional degrees. That distinction would cap federal student loan borrowing for advanced nursing students at $100,000 total, compared with the $200,000 borrowing limit available to students pursuing professional degrees.
Lawmakers argue that the change would significantly affect nurses seeking advanced education at a time when healthcare systems are already strained.
Bipartisan Letter Warns of Workforce Impact
In a letter sent to Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent, more than 100 lawmakers urged the department to reconsider the classification. The letter was led by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., along with Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.
“At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,” the lawmakers wrote.
They emphasized that advanced nursing education supports what they described as the “largest health care workforce in the United States,” and warned that reduced borrowing limits could make it harder for nurses to advance their education and enter high-need roles.
Borrowing Limits Differ Sharply by Degree Type
Under the proposed reforms, students pursuing degrees deemed “professional” — including Doctors of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medicine, and Clinical Psychology — would be eligible to borrow up to $50,000 annually, or $200,000 total.
By contrast, students pursuing advanced nursing degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing would face lower borrowing caps of $20,500 annually, or $100,000 total.
The Education Department has said the reforms are intended to place “commonsense limits and guardrails” on student loan borrowing and simplify repayment. The proposal also includes eliminating certain federal aid programs and sunsetting some student loan repayment plans.
Cost Barriers for Advanced Practice Nurses
Lawmakers contend that the proposed caps do not reflect the real cost of advanced nursing education and could force students to rely more heavily on private loans.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs, for example, can cost more than $200,000. The letter highlights CRNA programs as a strong return on investment, citing near-zero default rates and the profession’s critical role in providing anesthesia care in rural and underserved communities.
“CRNA programs have shown to be a critical return on investment, with default rates near zero percent, and a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher cost physicians do not practice,” the lawmakers wrote.
Implications for Primary Care Access
The lawmakers also pointed to the role advanced practice nurses play in primary care delivery. Research cited in the letter shows that more than half of Medicare beneficiaries receive primary care from a nurse practitioner or physician associate. In rural communities, that figure exceeds 60%.
They warned that limiting access to advanced nursing education could reduce care availability in areas already experiencing provider shortages — shortages intensified by burnout during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system,” the lawmakers said. “As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.”
