Judge’s pause temporarily restores higher loan limits for nursing graduate programs

A federal court pause has temporarily blocked part of the Education Department’s new graduate loan-limit framework, and on June 29 the department issued an interim list that again treats 29 programs as professional degrees for loan purposes while the case continues.

What changed

The dispute centers on the definition of a “professional degree,” which determines whether graduate students can borrow up to $200,000 or face the lower $100,000 cap. The department says the court’s preliminary stay affects that definition, not the rest of the rule, which still takes effect July 1 in most respects.

For now, the interim list includes nursing degrees such as the master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice and doctor of nurse anesthesia practice, along with other programs like physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, physician assistant, and divinity/ministry.

Why it matters

That temporary change matters because borrowing limits can affect whether students can afford to enroll in high-cost graduate programs. Students weighing nursing and other professional-track degrees now have a short-term answer: those programs are back in the higher-limit category while the stay remains in place.

The department says the designation is temporary and may change as litigation moves forward. It is still defending its original rule in court.

What to watch next

Borrowers and schools should keep an eye on the lawsuit and any new Education Department guidance. If the court ruling changes or the department issues a new update, the list could shift again.

Sources

• Associated Press — court ruling on graduate loan-cap rule
• U.S. Department of Education FSA Partner Connect — Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order
• U.S. Department of Education — fact sheet on definition of professional degrees