When Congress enacted H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it introduced new annual and lifetime federal loan limits that differ between graduate programs and professional degree programs. As the U.S. Department of Education moves through the rulemaking process to carry out this provision, its current draft language places nurse practitioner education under graduate programs rather than professional degree programs. This reclassification could significantly affect the future NP pipeline and the nation’s nursing workforce.

A proposed rule is expected to be released at any time. It is critical to contact Congress now and urge them to push the Department of Education to explicitly include nurse practitioners within the definition of a professional degree program.