LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A proposed rule change from the U.S. Department of Education could sharply reduce the amount future healthcare workers can borrow for school.
Under the plan, many healthcare degrees, including nursing, would lose access to high federal loan caps, with limits ranging from $20,000 to a lifetime maximum of $100,000. The Trump administration does not classify these programs as professional degrees, unlike programs for doctors, veterinarians, and pharmacists.
Hospital leaders warn that the change could discourage people from joining the healthcare workforce because the cost of education will rise.
“We should be making it easier for people to get higher education degrees and not making it harder,” said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association.
For caregivers like Presley Marth, the proposal hits close to home.
“It makes it harder and, you know, discourages a lot of people,” Marth said.
Nebraska hospitals caution that fewer students entering medical careers now could lead to a shortage of providers caring for families in the future.
“It’s sad when we know we need more nurses across Nebraska. We already have a shortage of 5,000 nurses at this point,” Nordquist said. “We’re really facing a challenge with our healthcare workforce, and this is just a step backwards.”
The White House has said the change could push medical schools to lower tuition costs. Critics argue the issue goes beyond money—it’s also about equity. These programs allow students to enter stable and respected careers in healthcare.
“It’s going to make it a lot harder and more stressful, and they already have enough stress on them as it is. I disagree with it, and I always wonder, ‘What is the endgame with some of the decisions?’” Marth said.
If fewer students enroll, the effects could ripple through communities that rely on these workers for care. The new student loan caps, if finalized, would take effect next July.
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