Urgent Update: Trump Admin’s Degree Reclassification Hits Nursing

UPDATE: In a controversial move, the Department of Education has announced significant changes to the classification of degrees under President Donald Trump‘s One Big Beautiful Bill. Starting from July 2026, many students pursuing degrees deemed “non-professional” will see a drastic reduction in their financial aid, raising alarms across numerous sectors, particularly in healthcare.

The new regulations will determine the amount of federal reimbursement students receive based on whether their degree is classified as professional or not. Notably absent from the new “professional” degree list are critical fields like nursing, physician assistants, and social work. This omission has sparked fierce backlash from educational and healthcare organizations, who argue it undermines the profession and could deter future students from entering these vital fields.

The financial stakes are high as the average cost of college tuition has doubled in the last three decades, with public university undergraduate tuition increasing by 30 percent over the last decade alone. The new repayment framework under the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will cap annual loans at $20,500 for graduate students and $50,000 for professional students, limiting financial support for those in high-demand professions.

Critics, including the American Nurses Association, have launched petitions urging the Department of Education to reconsider the exclusion of nursing from the professional designation. They assert that such decisions could lead to a significant decline in the nursing workforce, exacerbating existing shortages nationwide.

“This reclassification threatens to push women out of vital professional roles,” stated Amy McGrath, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, highlighting the gender disparities in fields affected by the new policy. She criticized the decision, questioning how a theologian could be considered more professional than a nurse practitioner.

Further complicating the issue, organizations like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) released statements emphasizing that excluding nursing from professional degree programs contradicts decades of progress in health professions. They argue that recognizing nursing education as professional is crucial for bolstering the healthcare workforce and ensuring quality patient care across communities.

With the clock ticking towards the implementation of these new measures, students and educators alike are left in uncertainty. The implications for future students in nursing and other omitted fields remain dire, as financial barriers could prevent them from pursuing essential careers. As the situation develops, stakeholders are closely monitoring potential changes and advocating for immediate action.

The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. As higher education costs continue to rise, the need for comprehensive financial support for all students, particularly those in critical professions, is more pressing than ever. The Department of Education’s decision on this matter will shape the landscape of higher education funding in the years to come.