The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) continues to monitor federal actions that could significantly affect access to advanced nursing education. OADN is an Organizational Affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and supports efforts to ensure that nursing is appropriately recognized as a professional degree and that students pursuing advanced nursing education maintain access to adequate federal financial aid.
Current Status: July 1, 2026
On June 24, a federal court temporarily blocked the Department of Education from enforcing its restrictive definition of “professional degree.” As a result, the Department may not implement that portion of its rule while the litigation proceeds. The underlying lawsuits remain pending, and the Department may appeal the decision.
In response, the Department of Education issued implementation guidance confirming that, for the duration of the court’s preliminary stay, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (MSN), Nurse Anesthetist (DNAP), and Nursing Practice (DNP) programs will be treated as professional degree programs for purposes of administering federal student loan limits. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The Department emphasized that these are interim administrative designations issued solely to implement the court’s order and may change as the litigation proceeds. The Department also confirmed that the remainder of the RISE Final Rule took effect on July 1, 2026, including the elimination of the Grad PLUS program, new annual and aggregate loan limits for graduate and professional students, and the creation of two new repayment plans. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
While OADN is not a party to the current lawsuits challenging the Department of Education’s graduate loan rule, we support their objective of protecting access to nursing’s educational pathways and helping ensure a strong pipeline of future nurse practitioners, nurse faculty, researchers, and leaders.
ANA-Led Lawsuit Challenges Exclusion of Nursing from Professional Degree Designation
On May 29, 2026, the American Nurses Association (ANA) and nine national nursing organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s final rule implementing new federal graduate student loan borrowing limits.
The lawsuit focuses specifically on the Department’s decision to exclude post-baccalaureate nursing degree programs, including MSN, DNP, DNAP, and PhD programs, from the federal definition of “professional degree” programs. Under the rule, nursing students would be subject to significantly lower annual and lifetime borrowing limits than students enrolled in designated professional degree programs.
The plaintiffs argue that the Department exceeded its authority, applied congressional criteria inconsistently, and failed to adequately consider the impact on the nation’s nursing workforce and healthcare access.
On June 2, ANA and its coalition partners filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to prevent the Department of Education from enforcing the rule while the litigation proceeds. The Department of Justice filed its opposition on June 16, and the ANA coalition filed its reply on June 23. A hearing on the motion remains scheduled for July 1 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Following the favorable June 24 ruling in the separate interprofessional coalition lawsuit, the ANA plaintiffs filed that decision as supplemental authority for the Massachusetts court to consider in advance of the July 1 hearing. The ANA lawsuit remains pending.
Separate Interprofessional Coalition Lawsuit
In addition to the ANA-led lawsuit, a separate legal challenge was filed on May 21, 2026, by an interprofessional coalition of organizations represented by Democracy Forward, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), National Education Association (NEA), Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), and other plaintiffs.
The lawsuit similarly challenges the Department of Education’s decision to exclude nursing and other professions from the definition of a professional degree for purposes of federal student loan borrowing limits. The plaintiffs argue that the Department exceeded its authority by adopting a definition that conflicts with the statute enacted by Congress and creates significant barriers for students pursuing advanced education in nursing, education, public health, and other professions.
On June 25, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary relief, concluding that the Department’s restrictive definition of “professional degree” is likely contrary to law. The court blocked the Department from enforcing that definition while the litigation proceeds. Although the case remains pending and the Department may appeal the ruling, the decision currently prevents the Department from implementing its narrowed definition beginning July 1.
Congressional Efforts Continue
While litigation continues, Congress has pursued several legislative approaches in response to the Department of Education’s rule.
The Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 189 / S.J.Res. 196) sought to overturn the Department’s final rule and prevent it from taking effect. OADN was among the organizations supporting the resolution through our work with the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), a broad alliance representing nursing education, practice, research, regulation, and leadership across the profession.
The NCC formally endorsed the resolution and urged Congress to pass it before the statutory deadline. On June 24, however, the U.S. Senate considered S.J.Res. 196, and the resolution failed to advance on a party-line vote. Although the CRA will not move forward, other legislative and judicial efforts remain active.
The bipartisan Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (H.R. 8691 / S. 4568), introduced by Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and bipartisan House cosponsors and by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and bipartisan Senate cosponsors, would permanently include post-baccalaureate nursing programs within the federal definition of a professional degree.
OADN joined dozens of national nursing organizations in endorsing this legislation through the NCC and supports its passage as a long-term solution to protect access to advanced nursing education. If enacted, the legislation would reverse the Department of Education’s exclusion of nursing programs and ensure that advanced nursing students have access to the same federal borrowing limits available to students in other professional degree programs.
A third congressional pathway emerged on June 11, when the House Appropriations Committee advanced the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill with a bipartisan amendment directing the Department of Education to treat advanced nursing programs as professional degree programs for purposes of federal student aid. The provision must still be approved by the full House of Representatives and included in a final appropriations package negotiated with the Senate before becoming law. If enacted, it would provide another mechanism for restoring professional degree status for advanced nursing programs.
OADN’s Commitment
OADN remains committed to advocating for policies that strengthen nursing education and support pathways into advanced nursing practice. Ensuring access to advanced nursing education is essential to developing the nurse faculty, researchers, and advanced practice nurses needed to educate future nurses and meet growing healthcare needs.
We will continue to monitor developments in both federal lawsuits and congressional actions, and Department of Education guidance, and we will provide updates as additional information becomes available.