The Education Department expanded the list of programs qualifying for higher borrowing caps under Trump's repayment changes. The rule follows a court ruling and faces further legal battles.
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The Education Department on Monday issued a rule adding advanced nursing and dozens of other programs to the list of fields that qualify for higher federal student-loan borrowing limits under the Trump administration's repayment overhaul.
The expansion follows a court ruling that allowed the department to proceed with the changes. A federal judge earlier rejected an attempt to block the broader repayment plan, which includes new income-driven repayment options and loan forgiveness provisions. The rule applies to programs the department designates as leading to gainful employment in high-demand fields.
Students enrolled in the newly eligible programs can borrow more than the standard federal loan caps, the department said. The additions include programs in nursing, engineering technology, computer science and health administration. The department said the higher limits will help students cover tuition and living expenses in fields where graduates typically earn enough to repay the debt.
The broader repayment changes remain under legal challenge. Democratic-led states and consumer groups have argued the plan exceeds the department's authority and could leave borrowers with unaffordable debt. The rule is scheduled to take effect July 1. The department said borrowers with loans disbursed on or after that date will qualify for the higher caps if they enroll in an eligible program.
The department published the list of qualified programs last week. Schools must certify that a program meets gainful employment standards for students to access the higher limits. The rule does not change the standard loan limits for undergraduate or graduate students in non-qualifying programs.
The Trump administration has said the changes aim to reduce the cost of college and tie borrowing more closely to earnings. Critics say the caps could limit access to programs that do not fit the department's criteria.
The department said the rule is part of its broader push to tie federal student aid to workforce outcomes. Schools that offer eligible programs can now market the higher borrowing limits, which the department said could boost enrollment in fields with labor shortages.
The department's gainful employment criteria require programs to show that typical graduates' debt does not exceed a share of their earnings. Programs that fail the test risk losing access to federal aid. The department said it will release updated guidance for schools next month.
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