Nursing organizations criticize proposed change to student loan program

Nursing organizations, including AONL, are criticizing a Department of Education proposal to reduce the loan amounts post-baccalaureate nursing students can borrow from the government by excluding graduate nursing from the definition of “professional” degree programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released a survey finding the average cost for post-baccalaureate nursing education across program types is $38,542, nearly double the proposed $20,500 annual loan limit. Certified registered nurse anesthetist graduates usually take on more than $200,000 in student loan debt, far surpassing the $100,000 aggregate limit. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MPH, the Institute for Policy Solutions executive director at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, said the policy would hurt nurses from underrepresented groups and could lead to a less representative workforce and poorer health outcomes. AONL objects to the revised definition in the proposed framework. Additionally, the American Hospital Association urged the Department of Education to adopt a broader definition of professional degree programs, emphasizing the need to include post-baccalaureate nursing. (MedPage Today article, 12/23/25)