Chicago, IL – Nursing students nationwide are set to feel the impact of major federal student aid changes taking effect in 2026, reshaping how many future nurses will pay for their education. Under updates to the Higher Education Act and provisions outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, several types of nursing-related training no longer qualify for federal student aid, while others will face strict new performance and earnings requirements.
According to federal guidance, standalone NCLEX prep courses, continuing education units, short-term hospital trainings, and non-accredited certificate programs are not eligible for Title IV funding. Programs with weak graduate earnings or low completion and job-placement rates may also lose Direct Loan access under the new “low earnings outcomes” test beginning July 1, 2026.
Nursing students in graduate-level tracks, including MSN, DNP, NP, CRNA, and CNS programs, will lose access to Graduate PLUS loans entirely. Annual and lifetime caps on borrowing will further tighten available aid, limiting graduate students to $20,500 per year and imposing a $257,500 total lifetime maximum across federal loans.
Experts warn these changes could push students toward private loans or limit access to advanced nursing roles that require costly graduate training.
