Nursing Left Out: Lawmakers Push for Fair Loan Access

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Education Department to add nursing to a special list of "professional" programs, following the exclusion of nurses from a new rule that allows students to borrow more money for certain graduate degrees.

Current Situation

• Professional Programs List: Includes medicine, law, and theology.
• Loan Limits for Professional Programs:
• Total: Up to $200,000
• Annual: Up to $50,000
• Other Graduate Programs:
• Total: Capped at $100,000
• Annual: Capped at $20,500

Impact on Nursing Students

• Expensive Programs: Nursing programs, especially those for nurse anesthetists, can cost over $200,000.
• Year-Round Programs: Annual cap of $20,500 could be challenging for students in year-round programs.
• Education Department's Stance: Claims 95% of nursing students won't be affected by the new caps.

Lawmakers' Concerns

• Letter Signatories: Over 140 lawmakers, including 12 Republicans.
• Leaders: Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, and Rep. Jen Kiggans.
• Additional Concerns: Rep. Ritchie Torres warns of riskier private loans and unaffordable tuition, impacting healthcare and education systems.

Administration's Response

• Purpose of Loan Caps: To pressure colleges to lower tuition prices.
• Definition Basis: Based on a 1965 law, but the list is not exhaustive.
• Potential Changes: The proposal may evolve during the federal rulemaking process.

Other Excluded Groups

• Physical Therapists
• Social Workers