Public outrage has erupted after the Department of Education ruled that a widely studied college major—nursing—will not be classified as a “professional degree.” Under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, students in approved professional programs can borrow up to $200,000 in federal loans, while all other degree paths are capped at $100,000. Nursing’s exclusion has alarmed healthcare leaders, who warn the decision could worsen the nation’s ongoing nurse shortage.

More than 260,000 students nationwide are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with another 42,000 enrolled in associate programs. Critics fear the reduced loan limit will discourage future applicants and limit training opportunities. Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, said the ruling threatens both the workforce and the quality of patient care. “We are already short tens of thousands of nurses. This will prevent people from entering nursing education, including those training the next generation,” she told NewsNation.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also denounced the decision, arguing that nursing clearly fits the Department’s own criteria for professional programs, which typically lead to licensure and hands-on practice. The group warned that finalizing the proposal would be disastrous for an already strained workforce. It remains unclear whether nursing has ever been formally labeled a professional degree in federal policy, but the designation now directly determines borrowing limits, giving the ruling major consequences for students.

Ellen Keast, press secretary for higher education, defended the decision, saying the Department is using a long-standing definition and that some institutions are objecting only because they can no longer charge unlimited tuition. Fields that do qualify as professional degrees include medicine, pharmacy, law, dentistry, veterinary medicine, clinical psychology, and others.