On July 4 last year, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, a sweeping legislation that touched on almost every aspect of American life from immigration to taxes to education. One such provision was caps on federal student loan borrowing, touching on one of Trump’s campaign promises to lower costs to higher education by restructuring federal funding.
Starting July 1, federal student loans will be capped at $100,000 cap on graduate degrees and $200,000 on professional degrees. Previously, students could finance advanced degrees with unlimited Grad PLUS loans, which were eliminated in the bill.
Given how these caps significantly alter how much federal aid one can use to pay for their graduate programs, there’s a growing contingent in Congress trying to shield one high-demand profession in particular from that cap: nurses.
“America’s strength has always been rooted in the talent, ingenuity, and determination of its people,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in a statement. “By investing in their health, skills, and potential, this legislation helps ensure our country remains strong, competitive, and prepared for the future.”
