A federal judge has temporarily blocked part of the Trump administration’s student loan policy that would have restricted borrowing for students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy, public health and several other healthcare fields.
The ruling comes after multiple professional organizations challenged the Education Department’s revised definition of a “professional degree,” arguing that it unfairly excluded several healthcare programs from higher federal loan limits.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners welcomed the decision, calling it “an important step for NP students, the future healthcare workforce and the patients who depend on them.”
The dispute centers on federal student loan caps introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which are scheduled to take effect in July. Under the new law, graduate students will no longer be able to borrow up to the full cost of attendance. Instead, graduate degree programs are subject to a lifetime loan cap of $100,000, while professional degree programs qualify for a higher limit of $200,000.
The Education Department classified only a limited group of fields as professional degrees, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law, optometry, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, podiatry and theology.
However, programs such as nursing, physician assistant studies, public health, speech-language pathology and physical therapy were excluded, prompting eight professional organizations to file a lawsuit.
The plaintiffs argued that the lower borrowing limits would force many students either to abandon their education or rely on expensive private loans.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell found that the Education Department had exceeded its authority by imposing additional criteria for what qualifies as a professional degree. One of the new requirements stated that graduates must be able to practice independently without another professional’s supervision.
Judge Howell said Congress had not authorized the department to create such restrictions. She also warned that limiting educational opportunities could worsen shortages of healthcare professionals, particularly in underserved communities.
The ruling does not suspend the new federal loan caps themselves. Instead, it temporarily blocks the Education Department from enforcing its revised definition of professional degree programs while the legal challenge proceeds.
The Education Department said it is reviewing the court’s order and will determine its next steps. The agency has previously defended the loan limits, arguing they would encourage colleges and universities to reduce tuition costs.
Meanwhile, a separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of Democratic-led states challenging the loan caps remains pending.
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