LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Graduate nursing programs are no longer considered professional degrees by the U.S. Department of Education.

This change follows the implementation of President Donald Trump’s federal spending bill, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Without the professional degree classification, nursing students no longer have access to federal loans for graduate programs. The change has raised concerns among Kentucky nurses about worsening the state’s existing healthcare workforce shortage.

Kentucky faces nursing shortage crisis

According to the National Institutes of Health , the United States is facing a shortage in the nursing workforce, including in Kentucky .

The Kentucky Nurses Association reports that 107 out of the 120 counties in the Commonwealth are considered

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