We need your help! The Department of Education has issued a proposed a rule that would negatively impact the loan amounts available to post-baccalaureate nursing students. Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), are currently circulating a comment letter for members of Congress to sign and show their support for nursing. This congressional comment letter to the Department of Education outlines concerns with the Department’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which does not include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the professional degree category. These congressional champions are asking their colleagues to join this comment letter to show support for nursing as a professional degree. Please ask your federal policymakers to sign onto this comment letter by COB February 25, 2026.

AACN is the leading voice urging the inclusion of nursing as a professional degree. Unfortunately, the NPRM released on January 30, 2026, proposes updates to the regulatory definition of professional degrees that do not include post-baccalaureate nursing education. If this proposal were to be finalized as written, students enrolled in these nursing programs will be eligible for significantly lower annual and aggregate federal student loan limits compared to students in professional degree programs ($20,500 annually and $100,000 in total borrowing for graduate degrees, compared to $50,000 annually and $200,000 in total for professional degrees). If not corrected, this proposed definition would have direct financial, workforce, and public health implications as nursing students potentially face the decision to take out high-interest, private loans or abandon advanced practice education altogether. These proposed changes are not yet finalized.

Please ask your Representative and Senators to sign onto this comment letter by the February 25, 2026, deadline. We appreciate your advocacy on this time-sensitive request.