Judge Howell Blocks $100,000 Student-Loan Cap for Advanced Nursing Programs
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jun 25
Judge Howell Blocks $100,000 Student-Loan Cap for Advanced Nursing Programs
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jun 25
Summary
Wednesday night's order temporarily halted the Education Department's new definition of "professional degree," preventing advanced nursing and other healthcare programs from being pushed into a lower $100,000 graduate borrowing cap.
Howell said the nurse practitioner and physician assistant groups suing were likely to prove the definition unlawful and showed irreparable harm, while the public-interest balance favored an injunction.
July 1 caps can still take effect under the preexisting definition, meaning advanced healthcare programs remain eligible for the higher $200,000 professional-student limit while the case proceeds.
The ruling adds to bipartisan pressure on the policy: the Education Department said it is reviewing the order, and House Republicans have already advanced budget language to restore higher caps for advanced nursing programs.