Changes in Loan Eligibility for Graduate Nursing Programs

College Majors Nursing Majors
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The OBBB has placed new limits on the amount of loans a student can obtain.

Graduate nursing programs, such as APRN/DNP/CRNA/CNM, are not consider “professional” degrees under the OBBB and the amount of loans graduate students are eligible for are now limited to $100,000 lifetime (this includes any undergrad loans a student may take out) and a maximum of $20,500/year.

The new loan limit also applies to other “non-professional” health care degrees like occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, and audiology.

Additionally, the OBBB eliminates all Grad Plus loans starting 2026.

This new limit may impact the ability of BSNs and RNs to further their education and advance in their careers.

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/11/25/nx-s1-5619731/medical-nursing-school-loan-limits

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It’s a load of you know what. At a time when we are in desperate need of Nurse Practitioners -especially in rural areas – we are cutting off the supply.

And OT, PT, and SLP, and Audiology - in what world are those NOT professional degrees?

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I work at a grad program for nursing. Our fall number of admits was 90. For spring last I heard it was 60. People are concerned.

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