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  • Written by Kaitlyn M. Sims, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, University of Denver; Institute for Humane Studies

As of July 2026[1], graduate degree programs in nursing, public health, social work, public policy and more will no longer be defined as professional degrees by the Department of Education.

The change limits how much federal financial aid students in those programs can qualify for under new borrowing limits[2] set by the big tax and spending cuts bill passed by Congress in 2025.

The Department of Education said excluding these degrees from the professional degree classification is solely an “internal definition[3]” and “not a value judgment about the importance of (these) programs.” The department argues these changes will push some graduate programs to reduce their tuition costs.

Every day, survivors of domestic violence rely on a care network built and maintained by a system of nurses, forensic nurse examiners, social workers, therapists and emergency shelter managers. Many of these jobs require graduate training that comes with substantial education costs. To afford these degrees, students often rely on federal financial aid.

The status change[4] will cut the amount of lifetime federal aid students in these programs can receive by about half relative to students in professional programs. In combination with ongoing federal funding cuts[5], the change threatens to destabilize an already strained social service system.

We are faculty[6] and student researchers at the University of Denver’s Systems, Housing, and Anti-violence Policy Evaluation Lab[7]. We are alarmed at what the status change means for social service providers, especially those serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Excluding programs that prepare individuals to work with survivors of domestic violence from the professional degree designation risks discouraging entry into these professions nationwide[8]. Fewer people entering the profession will impact both the quality and availability of care for those who rely on these services. Moreover, increasing the amount of private debt students will take on to complete these degrees will have lasting consequences.

Professional degree classification and loans

Under the new rules going into effect this summer, graduate student borrowers face annual loan limits and lifetime caps on total borrowing for federal student aid.

Graduate students in professional degree programs, which include medicine, law, dentistry and other high-cost degrees[9], can access federal loans of up to US$50,000 per year and $200,000 in total[10].

Taking away the professional degree label from programs limits students to $20,500 in annual federal loans and a lifetime cap of $100,000[11] for graduate study. But program costs remain unchanged.

In Colorado, and elsewhere, the cost of graduate education often exceeds what students can pay without borrowing. The new cap of $20,500 per year[12] for students in nonprofessional graduate degree programs is far less than the total cost of attendance at major Colorado universities.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, annual costs can top $38,000[13] including food, housing, books and transportation for in-state students with a full-time credit load. Tuition and fees alone cost about $16,000.

A stone sign reads
Entering Colorado State University in Fort Collins comes at a cost. Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images[14]

At Colorado State University, costs range from $36,000 for in-state students to $57,000 for out-of-state students[15]. At the University of Denver, some programs can approach $80,000 per year[16] after housing and other personal expenses are accounted for.

For students who cannot pursue these degrees without adequate financial aid[17], this policy will create barriers to entering the field. Others will be saddled with private debt that lacks the protections and favorable borrowing terms of federal loans.

Undergraduates can access income-based aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA[18]. That includes Pell Grants[19], which are need-based financial aid for undergraduate students, and subsidized loans.

Graduate students lack comparable need-based grant programs and instead rely largely on direct, unsubsidized loans and Grad PLUS loans[20], which cover educational expenses not met by other financial aid, such as food, housing and books. But the Grad PLUS loan program is set to end for new borrowers[21] on July 1, 2026, further tightening access to advanced degrees.

A calculator and a pen sit on a stack of papers that read
People seeking undergraduate degrees can apply for income-based financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program, known as FAFSA. Royalty-free/Getty Images[22]

Impacts on long-term labor force

Removing these programs from the list of professional status degrees that qualify for higher loans delivers both a symbolic and financial blow to the essential services that support survivors of domestic violence.

Denise Smith, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing, told Denver7 the policy leaves nurses feeling devalued[23]. She argues that this reinterpretation of the professional degree definition could reduce growth in the nursing profession, with long-term impacts on patients’ access to care.

The New York Academy of Medicine cautions that restricting financial aid will shut out students[24] from lower-income backgrounds, reverse progress in workforce diversity[25] and erode respect for vital health professions at a time when trust in evidence-based care[26] is already stretched thin.

Victim advocacy roles such as shelter managers and housing navigators, which sometimes require a graduate degree, are already chronically underpaid[27]. The median annual salary for social workers nationwide is about $61,000[28].

Analysts argue that limiting how much students can borrow to earn the credentials they need may accelerate the collapse of the workforce pipeline[29]. Some of these professions, such as nursing, already face a critical shortage of workers[30].

In fields that rely on moral wages[31] – compensating poorly paid staff with the intrinsic satisfaction of helping those in need – recognition matters. The work done by graduates with these degrees has not changed, and the skills these workers bring to domestic and sexual violence response programs are still vital.

Why this matters

In Colorado, where many shelters operate at or above capacity[32] and most counties don’t have their own shelter program[33], we believe the impact of fewer trained service professionals would be especially acute.

According to a 2025 survey by NO MORE[34], an advocacy coalition supporting victims of domestic violence, 80% of organizations in the sexual and domestic violence sector in the U.S. have experienced service disruptions due to federal funding instability. A multistate survey in 2021 of domestic violence programs found that 90% reported high staff turnover[35] due to inadequate funding and the lack of livable wages. State coalitions against domestic violence say employees who remain at these jobs often juggle multiple roles and face substantial burnout[36].

Shrinking the pipeline of trained professionals who work with victims of domestic violence will disproportionately harm low-income, rural and marginalized survivors[37], not just in Colorado but nationwide. Fewer professionals means fewer safe options and longer waits[38] for critical services.

Trauma-informed counseling in shelters and community programs is critical for survivors’ recovery and long-term well-being[39]. However, long waits to access shelter or see a mental health professional, along with workforce shortages, already limit access. Fewer forensic nurses to conduct sexual assault exams further threatens survivor safety, especially amid nationwide nursing shortages[40].

In rural and underserved areas, advanced practice nurses – those with advanced clinical practice and education experience – are often the only consistent providers of care[41] for the local population. Reducing support for nurse training[42] puts entire communities at risk and weakens vital services, including documentation of abuse[43] that can be essential for domestic violence legal proceedings.

These combined challenges highlight the fragility of the system that supports survivors. Without continued investment in training and recognition for these professionals, the network that provides safety and support will be weakened even further.

References

  1. ^ As of July 2026 (nbcwashington.com)
  2. ^ new borrowing limits (www.newsweek.com)
  3. ^ internal definition (www.ed.gov)
  4. ^ status change (www.newsweek.com)
  5. ^ ongoing federal funding cuts (time.com)
  6. ^ faculty (sites.google.com)
  7. ^ Systems, Housing, and Anti-violence Policy Evaluation Lab (sites.google.com)
  8. ^ discouraging entry into these professions nationwide (krdo.com)
  9. ^ medicine, law, dentistry and other high-cost degrees (www.ed.gov)
  10. ^ US$50,000 per year and $200,000 in total (krdo.com)
  11. ^ $20,500 in annual federal loans and a lifetime cap of $100,000 (krdo.com)
  12. ^ $20,500 per year (www.aha.org)
  13. ^ annual costs can top $38,000 (www.colorado.edu)
  14. ^ Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com)
  15. ^ $36,000 for in-state students to $57,000 for out-of-state students (financialaid.colostate.edu)
  16. ^ $80,000 per year (www.du.edu)
  17. ^ without adequate financial aid (www.newsweek.com)
  18. ^ Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA (studentaid.gov)
  19. ^ Pell Grants (studentaid.gov)
  20. ^ Grad PLUS loans (www.salliemae.com)
  21. ^ set to end for new borrowers (www.savingforcollege.com)
  22. ^ Royalty-free/Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com)
  23. ^ the policy leaves nurses feeling devalued (www.denver7.com)
  24. ^ restricting financial aid will shut out students (nyam.org)
  25. ^ reverse progress in workforce diversity (bhbusiness.com)
  26. ^ trust in evidence-based care (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  27. ^ chronically underpaid (mncasa.org)
  28. ^ about $61,000 (www.bls.gov)
  29. ^ accelerate the collapse of the workforce pipeline (www.americanprogress.org)
  30. ^ critical shortage of workers (coloradosun.com)
  31. ^ rely on moral wages (www.ucpress.edu)
  32. ^ operate at or above capacity (www.ksut.org)
  33. ^ most counties don’t have their own shelter program (theconversation.com)
  34. ^ 2025 survey by NO MORE (www.nomore.org)
  35. ^ 90% reported high staff turnover (www.nysenate.gov)
  36. ^ often juggle multiple roles and face substantial burnout (www.nysenate.gov)
  37. ^ disproportionately harm low-income, rural and marginalized survivors (www.urban.org)
  38. ^ fewer safe options and longer waits (www.apa.org)
  39. ^ critical for survivors’ recovery and long-term well-being (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  40. ^ nationwide nursing shortages (www.aacnnursing.org)
  41. ^ the only consistent providers of care (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  42. ^ Reducing support for nurse training (www.usatoday.com)
  43. ^ documentation of abuse (www.ojp.gov)

Authors: Kaitlyn M. Sims, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, University of Denver; Institute for Humane Studies

Read more https://theconversation.com/new-federal-student-loan-limits-affect-social-work-graduate-students-with-impacts-for-survivors-of-domestic-violence-in-colorado-and-elsewhere-276254