MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. Department of Education clarified that nursing was not removed from the federal definition of a professional degree because it has never been included under that statutory category.
The agency said the definition originates from a 1965 federal law that limits the term “professional degree” to fields requiring advanced education beyond the bachelor’s level.
The clarification follows public confusion after updated guidance for July 1, 2026 identified which programs qualify for higher federal student loan caps.
Programs that remain eligible for the highest borrowing limits include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, law, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and theology.
The Department emphasized that the classification is used only for determining loan caps and does not diminish the value or importance of nursing as a profession.
Officials noted that 95 percent of nursing students borrow below current limits, indicating that most will not be affected by the revised borrowing structure.
Under the updated rules, high-cost professional programs may allow borrowing up to $200,000, while other graduate and doctoral programs will have a cap of $100,000.
Students who plan to pursue advanced nursing degrees such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) may experience tighter borrowing allowances under the new policy.
Nurses aiming for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which prepares advanced clinicians and leaders, may also be affected by the revised borrowing structure.
Those pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD), geared toward research and academic roles, could face similar financial limitations.
Nursing groups warn that these changes may pose challenges for graduate-level nurses seeking career advancement.
Filipino American nurses and other immigrant groups pursuing advanced practice roles are monitoring the policy closely due to potential impacts on graduate education access.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express