Article Summary –
The U.S. Department of Education announced planned changes to student aid as part of President Trump’s budget law, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” focusing on redefining professional degrees, altering student loan offerings, and introducing a new Repayment Assistance Plan to replace existing repayment systems. The adjustments include capping annual loans for graduate and professional students at $20,500 and $50,000, respectively, while redefining which fields qualify as professional degrees, notably excluding areas like nursing, which has raised concerns over access to necessary funding for graduate education in these fields. Public comments will be sought for 30 days before implementing these changes, emphasizing the potential impacts on higher education costs and accountability, according to the Department of Education.
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Nov. 6 the completion of rulemaking negotiations for significant changes to student aid, as mandated by President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” A draft will be published in the Federal Register for public commentary before finalizing these changes.
While the proposed rule text is unreleased, a press release detailed changes like redefining professional degrees and revising student loan options and repayment plans. The department will publish a draft in the Federal Register for public comment before any changes are finalized.
Trump’s legislation requires the department to enforce major student loan updates like new borrowing limits and simplified repayment plans.
The new definition restricts professional degrees to few fields such as medicine and law, reports Associated Press, excluding fields like nursing and architecture.
According to the eCFR Code of Federal Regulations, a professional degree indicates completion of academic requirements for a profession and requires licensure.
The department states these changes aim to prevent borrower debt and reduce tuition costs.
“The consensus language agreed upon today will drive significant change in higher education, pressuring tuition costs downward,” Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated on Nov. 6. “Borrowers will no longer face overwhelming debt for non-lucrative degrees.”
The department also plans to terminate the Grad PLUS program and cap Parent PLUS Loans. A new program called the Repayment Assistance Plan will replace Biden’s income-driven Saving on a Valuable Education plan.
Under the new proposal, loans for non-professional programs cap annually at $20,500 for graduate and $50,000 for professional students. Those in professional degrees can borrow up to $50,000 annually, reaching $200,000 total, per Inside Higher Ed.
Previously, loans matched attendance costs, prompting costly graduate programs with poor returns, according to the Department of Education.
Antonia Villarruel, nursing dean at the University of Pennsylvania, informed the American Independent that the bill primarily impacts graduate loans, affecting nurses and healthcare providers.
The American Association of the Colleges of Nursing reported 267,889 students in nursing programs as of 2024.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, noted in a statement on Nov. 10 that reducing funding for nurse education risks healthcare foundations amid shortages.
Villarruel stated many graduate nursing students aim to become primary care providers. She asserts that federal support issues affect nurse practitioner pay, emphasizing that “nurse practitioners can perform tasks akin to physicians safely.”
New America reports that the department will solicit public feedback for 30 days before the final ruling.
“I’m not sure people grasp the skills and education needed for compassionate care,” Villarruel added. “It involves an understanding of chemistry, physiology, pharmacology, how the body works, and its interactions holistically within its context.”
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