Protect Graduate Federal Student Loan Access

It Is Time to Take Action

It is time to take action!

The deadline for public comments is March 2, 2026.

Submit my regulatory comment:

I am writing to comment on the proposed rule and its exclusion of post‑baccalaureate nursing programs from the definition of a “professional degree.”

As someone who provides care in high‑acuity environments, I see firsthand how essential advanced practice nurses, educators, researchers, and clinical leaders are to care coordination, access to care,  patient outcomes and system readiness. Limiting access to graduate nursing education will have downstream effects on patient care, hospital capacity and the stability of the health care workforce. For these reasons, I urge the inclusion of post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, Ph.D.) explicitly in the list of professional degrees. This revision is necessary to ensure that nurses can access the financial support required to pursue advanced education and continue serving communities across the country. I appreciate your consideration of these comments and the critical role nurses with post-baccalaureate degrees play in the nation’s health care system.

Post‑baccalaureate pathways, including MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. programs, play a critical role in expanding and diversifying the nursing workforce. I urge the inclusion of post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, Ph.D.) explicitly in the list of professional degrees.

Federal loan support is essential for many nurses pursuing advanced degrees, particularly those preparing for advanced practice (including nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists), faculty, research, and leadership roles. These roles require rigorous academic preparation at the master’s and doctoral levels, along with clinical training, to ensure the delivery of safe, high‑quality care.

The failure to include post‑baccalaureate nursing degrees in the definition of “professional” degrees will unnecessarily limit federal financial aid for students pursuing advanced nursing education. Without access to higher borrowing limits, many qualified students will be unable to enroll or complete their programs, directly affecting the pipeline of advanced practice nurses, nurse educators, researchers and clinical leaders. This will restrict access, reduce enrollment, and weaken the nursing workforce at a time of rising patient acuity and ongoing clinician shortages.

Respectfully,
______

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