4+ hour, 42+ min ago (411+ words) AUSTIN, Texas " Changes could impact graduate students seeking advanced degrees in nursing and other fields after the Trump administration proposed modifications to federal student loan access. The U.S. Department of Education'announced it will exclude nursing as a "professional degree" as part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Students will be capped at $20,500 annually with a lifetime limit of $100,000. The news has led to outrage and confusion over what impacts graduate students will face.' Texas Nurses Association CEO Dr. Serena Bumpus said while nursing hasn't fallen under a "professional degree" since the term was established in the 1960s, nursing isn't what it used to be. "There weren't a lot of opportunities for nurses to go back to school at the graduate level and receive a graduate degree. So at that time, those definitions made sense," she said. "We've always considered ourselves a profession....

8+ hour, 18+ min ago (358+ words) News News: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma disbursed Rs 130 crore for the 2024-25 post-matric scholarship, benefiting nearly 70,000 students. The state Tura, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday released the second and final instalment of the Umbrella Post Matric Scholarship amounting to Rs 130 crore for nearly 70,000 students for the 2024-25 academic year.The programme was held at the district auditorium here, attended by Education Minister Lakhmen Rymbui, Commissioner and Secretary (Education) Vijay Kumar Mantri, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal and Director of Higher and Technical Education Hazel D B Sangma.Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the state government was releasing the full scholarship amount from its own resources as the funds from the Centre had not yet been received.The decision to release the amount in advance was taken to ease the difficulties faced by students, he said....

9+ hour ago (565+ words) Students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy, public health and some other fields would face tighter federal student loan limits under the plan because it doesn't consider them professional programs. The revamp is part of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress. While graduate students could previously borrow loans up to the cost of their degree, the new rules would set caps depending on whether the degree is considered a graduate or professional program. Left out are nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy and social work as well as fields outside of health care such as architecture, education, and accounting. While the plan is still being finalized, the new student loan caps would take effect next July. Why this is happening now The Trump administration says limits on graduate loans are needed to reduce tuition costs. It believes…...

14+ hour, 56+ min ago (74+ words) Saturday, 29 November 2025, 15:00 MJA Uncategorized 4 @JebraFaushay: The hashtag said TEACHER so I guess this goes down when the kids are at recess. She could teach me any time,any thing! No, this is actually during class. Who made this fag freak a teacher. He needs to be fired immediately and lose his teacher's license permanently in all 50 states. There is no excuse for this kind of immoral behavior....

15+ hour, 56+ min ago (748+ words) The Department of Education has proposed excluding a wide range of college programs from the definition of "professional degrees" specifically in relation to eligibility for student loans. As of this writing, the proposal has not yet passed. Some counseling degrees would also be classified as "professional degrees" under the Department of Education's plan. It was unclear if this decision " which specifically would affect student loan borrowing limits "indicated a more widespread change for other Department of Education policies and practices. In late 2025, social media users spread a rumor that the Department of Education said it would no longer classify nursing programs and other college credentials as "professional degrees."" As of this writing, the proposal had not been finalized. It was unclear whether this policy that specifically affected student loans indicated a broader shift in the Department of Education's attitudes toward…...

16+ hour, 47+ min ago (189+ words) In a heartwarming gesture ahead of the festive season, Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has granted Rs 126.28 crore as a timely Christmas pr Shillong: Altogether 70,683 Scheduled Tribe (ST) students received scholarships as "Christmas gifts" on Saturday with the state govt disbursing Rs 126.28 crore as the second and final instalment of the Umbrella Post Matric Scholarship for the academic year 2024-25.Proud to keep our promise and empower our students on their journey towards a brighter future," CM Conrad K Sangma said after formally releasing the scholarships in the presence of education minister Lakhmen Rymbui and senior officials at an event in Tura It"s going to be an early Christmas gift to our students, as promised", the CM said in a social media post on Friday Over 500 students personally attended the event, while thousands joined online from across the state…...

16+ hour, 51+ min ago (1566+ words) Wyoming's shortage of nursers could get worse if the federal government takes nurses off of its list of "professional" degrees. That would slash federal student loan assistance and could put the nurse practitioner program out of reach for students. Wyoming has an acute nursing care shortage even as it has more retirees than ever moving to the state. That's creating a service gap that University of Wyoming educators say could get worse under a federal proposal that would remove its nurse practitioner program from the list of degrees considered "professional." The Department of Education's designation is about more than just respect, Wyoming educators say. It's an internal designation that will determine how much federal loan money students are allowed to pursue." The Trump administration has billed that as a means of forcing universities to reduce program costs that it says…...

16+ hour, 56+ min ago (280+ words) Under changes proposed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, "professional degrees" have been redefined. Included in the OBBBA are " Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) " Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) " Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.) " Law (L.L.B. or J.D.) " Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) " Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.) " Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.) The new bill puts limits on loans for graduate student degrees. Loans will be capped at $20,500/year and $100,000 total. But for programs designated as "professional," the limits are $50,000/year and $200,000 total. Previously, student loans could cover the full cost of attendance. The ASPPH letter stresses the need for the definition of "professional" to be inclusive rather than restricting it more, as is the proposed plan. Another concern some raise is that funding cuts and fewer students will force some degree programs to close. Others note that federal loan limits might force students to take more expensive private loans. There have been devastating cuts to the…...

17+ hour, 24+ min ago (404+ words) News News: US student loan borrowers face key tax changes as 2025 ends....

20+ hour, 36+ min ago (519+ words) US graduate student loan caps 2026: The Trump administration has revealed new restrictions on federal student loans that are set to commence on July 1, 2026. Depending on their year of study, undergraduate students will continue to be subject to the current yearly cap of $7,500 for dependent students. Graduate and professional students, however, would face stricter borrowing restrictions. The regulation has not yet been approved and could possibly be changed before it is put into effect. Also Read: H1-B visa row: NRI couple with "6 crore net worth reveals plan to return to India for "peaceful" life in Ooty or Kochi The US Department of Education says that such a degree "signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor"s degree. The department has identified…...