What Counts as a Professional Degree in 2026?

Valerie Fuller, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, visited the podcast to talk about how new federal loan limits will change what graduate students can borrow and why nursing may no longer be considered a professional degree. The hosts also looked at the appropriations outlook on Capitol Hill, negotiations on rulemaking to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill, and more.

Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:

Graduate Loan Limits

Valerie Fuller, president of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 

Graduate and Professional Student Loan Limits Under the OBBB

National Nurse Practitioner Organizations Express Concern Over Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking
Nov. 21, 2025

AANP Advocacy Center

Bills Introduced to Address Changes to Graduate Lending Programs 
NAICU Washington Update | Dec. 19, 2025

Nurses Continue to Lead in Honesty and Ethics Ratings
Gallup | Jan. 12, 2026

Constitutionality of Race-Based Higher Education Grant Programs

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Statement on the Office of Legal Counsel's Opinion on the Constitutionality of Race-Based Higher Education Grant Programs

Negotiated Rulemaking 

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025
Department of Education

AHEAD Committee's Second Rulemaking Session Results in Consensus on Accountability Framework
ACE | Jan. 12, 2026

ED Panel Signs Off on New Earnings Test 
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 9, 2026

Negotiators Reach Consensus on Pell Regulations 
ACE | Dec. 15, 2025

Consensus Reached on Workforce Pell, Earnings Test Looms
Inside Higher Ed | Dec. 15, 2026