The U.S. Education Department has issued a revised rule expanding the list of graduate programs classified as "professional degrees," making students in fields like nursing, physical therapy and speech-language pathology eligible for higher federal student loan limits after a federal judge blocked part of an earlier Trump administration policy.
The change stems from a court ruling last week by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, who called the department's original definition a "misguided" interpretation that strayed from a longstanding congressional standard. The new rule takes effect Wednesday and will remain in place during the judge's preliminary stay on the matter.
Under the revised policy, professional degree programs face federal loan caps of $200,000, while other graduate programs are capped at $100,000. Previously, graduate students could borrow up to the full cost of their degree without caps.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups that challenged the original rule welcomed the expansion but said more action is needed. Eight organizations representing nurse practitioners, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and other professionals sued the department over its initial definition, arguing it would force students to abandon their studies or take on riskier private loans.
"This ruling protects students who are pursuing careers in high-demand health fields," said a statement from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The group noted that some graduate nursing programs can cost more than $100,000, particularly in specialties like nurse anesthesia, which would be impossible to complete under the lower loan cap.
Democratic legislators have also pushed for broader student loan reform separate from this court case. A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed a parallel lawsuit challenging the overall loan caps as part of the Trump administration's student loan overhaul included in last year's tax bill.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump administration officials defended their original classification and said they plan to continue fighting in court. Undersecretary Nicholas Kent stated that the department "will continue to make the case that the definition is both lawful and appropriate."
Administration officials have argued the loan caps are necessary to rein in student debt and address tuition prices they say "had grown out of control." They maintain the original professional degree list — which included medicine, law, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and theology — reflected a technical definition dating to the 1960s, not a judgment on which fields matter most.
The department's communication to universities expressed confidence that its initial rule will ultimately be upheld. Officials warned that the amended rule "may change as litigation in the case proceeds."
What the Numbers Show
The original administration rule listed approximately 12 programs as professional degrees. The revised rule expands that list to 29 specific degree programs.
Newly added to the professional classification include: master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of nurse anesthesia practice, physical therapy doctorate, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associate and anesthesiologist assistant degrees.
Conversely, several programs were moved from professional to non-professional status, including theology studies — a shift that subjects divinity students to the lower $100,000 cap. However, the master of divinity degree, common for pastors and ministers, remains on the professional list.
Graduate nursing programs can exceed $100,000 in total cost, particularly nurse anesthesia programs, according to data cited by groups opposing the original rule.
The Bottom Line
The temporary expansion represents a win for health profession advocates who argued the original rule would create barriers to entering fields facing staffing shortages. However, the underlying policy dispute remains unresolved as litigation continues.
Students in affected programs should monitor announcements from their institutions and the Education Department regarding loan eligibility for the coming academic year. The department has indicated the rules could change again depending on court outcomes.
The separate lawsuit filed by Democratic-led states challenging the loan caps more broadly is still pending, meaning the broader debate over graduate student borrowing limits may ultimately be decided in a different forum.