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Graduate Nursing and Physical Therapy Students Regain Access to Maximum Federal Loans After Court Ruling
The U.S. Education Department has revised its list of professional degree programs following a federal court ruling, allowing graduate students in nursing, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, physician assistant, athletic training, and other programs to access up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 in total federal student loans. The original list had limited these fields to $20,500 per year with a $100,000 cap, as part of President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' aimed at addressing the student debt crisis. Judge Beryl Howell blocked the restrictive rules after a lawsuit by professional organizations including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The Education Department has promised to challenge the ruling, stating the revised list may change as litigation proceeds. The change also removed some theology degrees from the high-loan list but retained master's degrees in divinity and rabbinical studies.
Forbes - BusinessTrump administration expands list of graduate degrees subject to higher borrowing limits
A federal court ruling has forced the Trump administration to expand the list of graduate degrees eligible for higher federal student loan caps. Under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' starting July 1, new graduate students face an annual cap of $20,500, while professional degree students can borrow up to $50,000. The Education Department had initially narrowed the definition of professional degrees to just 11 fields, but Judge Beryl A. Howell froze that definition, ruling it violated Congressional intent. On June 29, the department published an updated list of over 20 qualifying degrees, including registered nursing, physician associates, and speech-language pathologists. Advocacy groups like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners praised the ruling, noting it protects the healthcare workforce. However, experts caution that the administration may appeal, and the annual caps themselves remain in place. Students are advised to consult their financial aid offices for final guidance.
US Top News and AnalysisFederal Judge Blocks New Student Loan Borrowing Limits for Graduate Students
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, issued a temporary block on new loan borrowing limits imposed by the Education Department on graduate and professional students. The ruling came just one week before the restrictions were scheduled to take effect. Judge Howell found that the department's new limits violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by adding requirements without proper procedural compliance. The decision temporarily halts the implementation of the policy, which would have capped borrowing for advanced-degree students. The case highlights ongoing legal challenges to federal student loan policies.
Just In NewsFederal Judge Blocks Trump’s Limits on Graduate Student Loan Borrowing Days Before Effective Date
On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s new rule limiting federal student loans for certain graduate students, just days before the policy was to take effect on July 1. The rule, part of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, capped most graduate student borrowing at $20,500 annually and so-called 'professional' students at $50,000, replacing the previous uncapped borrowing for program costs. The Department of Education defined 11 professional degrees including medicine and dentistry. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and other plaintiffs challenged the definition as 'arbitrary and capricious,' arguing it excluded critical fields like nursing and education. The judge set aside the professional degree definition but did not block the overall borrowing caps. Democracy Forward’s CEO Skye Perryman welcomed the ruling, stating it allows students in nursing, public health, and education to continue borrowing under the Direct Loan Program.
US Top News and AnalysisJudge blocks key part of Trump's student-loan repayment overhaul days before it would take effect
A federal judge, Beryl Howell, temporarily blocked a provision of President Trump's student-loan repayment overhaul that would set stricter borrowing caps for advanced nursing and other healthcare programs. The Education Department had proposed a $100,000 lifetime cap for graduate students and $200,000 for professional students, but narrowed the definition of 'professional' to exclude advanced nursing and other healthcare programs. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the PA Education Association sued, arguing the definition was unlawful. Judge Howell's ruling pauses the contested definition while allowing higher borrowing caps to take effect on July 1 using preexisting definitions that include advanced healthcare programs. The plaintiffs said the ruling is 'only the first step,' citing threats to the healthcare workforce amid provider shortages. The Education Department is reviewing the order.
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