Story perspectives

Education Dept Cuts Loan Caps, Sparks Nursing Shortage Fears

6/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

On July 1, the U.S. Department of Education lowered loan caps, separating professional graduate fields from other programs.
Caps let students borrow up to $50,000 per year/$200,000 total, limit other students to $20,500 per year/$100,000 total, and end Grad PLUS loans.
The rule limits borrowing for health-care graduate programs, prompting 98 % of 19,620 commenters to warn of nursing shortages of 100,000 by 2038 and 35 % growth for nurse anesthetists, midwives and practitioners.

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Story summary

On July 1, the U.S. Department of Education lowered loan caps, separating professional graduate fields from other programs.
Caps let students borrow up to $50,000 per year/$200,000 total, limit other students to $20,500 per year/$100,000 total, and end Grad PLUS loans.
The rule limits borrowing for health-care graduate programs, prompting 98 % of 19,620 commenters to warn of nursing shortages of 100,000 by 2038 and 35 % growth for nurse anesthetists, midwives and practitioners.