LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

The U.S. Education Department's proposal to redefine what constitutes a "professional degree" could lead to deep cuts in federal loans for students across nearly a dozen industries, including nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and law.

Delanor Manson, CEO of the Kentucky Nurses Association, expressed concern over the proposal.

"If you could imagine one day without us? What it would look like?...And I think that the right decision would be made that we need nurses," Manson said.

The measure, part of President Trump's legislative efforts, seeks to impose "commonsense" limits on federal student loans for graduate degrees to reduce program costs and student debt.

Starting July 1, 2026, students in programs defined as "professional" can borrow $50,000 annually, with a lifetime

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