Bresnahan Pushes for Expanded Access to Federal Student Aid for Nursing Students

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) cosponsored the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, legislation that would amend the Department of Education's (ED) definition of "professional degree" to include nursing degrees. The cosponsorship is the latest action Rep. Bresnahan has taken in the push to expand ED's definition of "professional degrees" and the access the definition offers the next generation of professionals.

In an effort to improve access to education for students, the Working Families Tax Cuts raised annual loan limits for graduate students in professional degree programs from $20,500 to $50,000 per year (from $100,000 to $200,000 total). However, ED's current definition of qualifying programs is narrow, leaving out several professions, including nursing and physical therapy.

"Nurses play an essential role in protecting public health and serving the American people, but obtaining a degree to do so is time consuming and costly," said Rep. Bresnahan. "The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act will ensure nursing students can access the federal loan programs available to other professional degree students. Our hospitals and communities need a strong pipeline of qualified nurses, and this bill is an important step toward supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals."

The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act would update the definition of "professional degree" in the Higher Education Act to include advanced nursing degrees, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) programs.

Rep. Bresnahan first supported efforts to address this issue in December when he was an original cosponsor of theProfessional Student Degree Act. That legislation would expand the definition of "professional degree" to include a broader range of programs, including nursing, physical therapy, secondary education, and others.

In March, Rep. Bresnahan joined bipartisan House and Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Education urging the agency to revise its definition of "professional degree" to include post-baccalaureate nursing programs. The letter followed a similar request made by lawmakers in December 2025 and highlighted the need to ensure nursing students have equal access to federal financial aid opportunities.

As demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow nationwide, Rep. Bresnahan remains committed to advancing policies that strengthen the healthcare workforce and expand educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in high-need fields. The Nursing as a Professional Degree Act represents the latest step in an ongoing effort to ensure aspiring nurses have the resources they need to complete their education and serve communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania and the nation.

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