Biden Administration Proposal to Narrow Student Loan Eligibilityโฃ Sparks Outcry from Nursing and Healthcare Groups
WASHINGTON โ- A Biden administrationโ plan to redefine “professionalโข degrees” for federal student loanโค purposes is facingโค sharp โcriticism from healthcare organizations, who warn the changes will exacerbate the existing โขnursing shortage and increase financial burdens on โaspiring medical โคprofessionals. The proposedโค rule,set to take effect July 1,2024,would exclude many post-baccalaureateโ healthcare programsโข – including those for nurses,dental hygienists,and medical technicians – from qualifying for theโข higher โขloan limits previously available toโข professional degree students.
Theโค shift stems from a Trump-era policy reversal that broadened the definition of professional degrees, a โchange that allowed students in these programs to access higherโ loan amounts.The biden administration argues the original, โnarrower definition is moreโ aligned with theโ intent of the Higherโ Education Act. However, healthcare advocates say โฃthe move will disproportionately impactโค women, who comprise a notable portion of the healthcare workforce, and ultimately โhinder efforts toโฃ address critical staffing shortages.
A coalition of health care organizations has urgedโฃ the Education Department to reconsider, arguing thatโ post-bachelor’s degrees essential for licensure or โฃcertification should be classified asโ professional degrees. They point to the high demand for โขthese roles and the financialโข realities faced โขby students pursuing them. According to a 2019โข U.S. Census bureau report, women constitute approximately three-fourths of full-time, year-round healthcareโ workers, with even higher representation โin positions like dental and medicalโ assisting.
The American Association of โขColleges of โNursing has stated the proposal, if finalized, would be “devastating” to an โalready strained nursing workforce. Currently, many studentsโค pursuing advanced nursing degrees are grandfathered into current lending limits. The new rule would eliminateโฃ this benefit for future students.
Susan Pratt, a nurse and โขpresident of a union representing nurses in Toledo, Ohio,โค expressed frustration, stating, “It’s just aโ smack in the face.When we where โduring the pandemic, the nurses showed up, and this isโข the thanks we get.”โ She fears the reduced loan access will discourageโ individuals from entering and advancing โคwithin the โnursing profession.
Healthcare groups contendโข that capping โfederal student loans will force students to โrely on โmore expensive private loans, โpossiblyโ deterring qualified candidates and ultimately threatening patient care. The Educationโ Department has not yetโฃ responded to requests for comment on the โฃgrowing opposition.
