We need your help! The Department of Education (ED) has released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that identifies “professional degree” programs for the purposes of new federal student loan limits. As written, ED’s proposed rule ([Docket ID ED-2025-OPE-0944]) will significantly reduce the federal loan amounts available to post-baccalaureate nursing students. We need to make sure that ED understands the proposed rule’s implications for the future nursing workforce and includes nursing as a professional degree when it finalizes this process.
Click here to visit AACN’s Take Action page where you can submit your comments to the Department of Education. We are asking you to write directly to ED today through this Take Action page telling them to maintain access to federal student loans for post-baccalaureate nursing students at the professional degree level. This public comment period is only open for a limited amount of time, and we must move quickly. AACN has tailored three campaign options for students, faculty, and other nursing advocates highlighting key arguments supporting nursing as a “professional degree.”
As we continue to actively engage in this rulemaking process, we appreciate your advocacy on this time-sensitive request! Please submit your comments AS SOON AS POSSIBLE in February before the official March 2 deadline.
