Take Action Today – Let the Department of Education Know That Nursing Is a Professional Degree

On January 30, the Department of Education (ED) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3A) student loan limits for post-baccalaureate degrees. As expected, nursing programs are not designated as "professional degree" programs under the proposal. As a result, students in MSN, DNP, and PhD nursing programs would face significantly lower student loan borrowing limits ($20,500 annually/$100,000 aggregate).

The public comment period on the proposed rule is open, and we need your help! Join us in our unified response efforts by:

• Registering for the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) webinar on the NPRM, tomorrow, Thursday, February 5 from 3:00-4:00 pm (ET). Click here to learn more and register.
• Sending comments to ED through AACN's Take Action webpage urging them to include post-baccalaureate nursing education in the definition of “professional degree” programs.
• Visiting AACN's Nursing is a Professional Degree Hub to learn more about this critical issue and ongoing response efforts.

Thank you to the nearly 100 AACN Advocates who sent in a comment yesterday to ED! We only have until March 2 to make an impact, and we need you to share as many personalized, compelling, comments as possible. We look forward to ongoing engagement as we demonstrate to ED the importance of ensuring that nursing is recognized as a professional degree.

Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act Reintroduced
Last week, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with House Nursing Caucus Leadership, Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.3707/H.R.7279). This legislation would help address the pay gap between clinical and faculty positions. AACN applauds this legislation as an innovative approach to supporting nursing schools and the recruitment and retention of faculty.

NHSC Loan Repayment Programs Application Now Open

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs: NHSC Loan Repayment Program; NHSC Substance Use Disorder and Workforce Loan Repayment Program; and NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program. If you are a primary care or mental and behavioral health provider working at an NHSC-approved site, you could receive up to $100,000 to pay off your student loans. The application deadline is March 31 at 7:30 pm (ET).

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