WASHINGTON (7News) -- Tucked into the 'Big Beautiful Bill' was a measure to decrease graduate loan limits in the hopes of forcing schools to lower tuition.
The move, though, is sparking a lot of concern.
Critics believe this could deter students from choosing to go into high-demand careers.
"The loan reform that is being put on the table affects more than just nurses; it affects our public health professionals, our educators with advanced degrees that all fall into a special category," said Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, a neonatal nurse practitioner at George Washington University.
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According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, this would cap loan limits for students enrolled in programs of study that award a professional degree.
That includes pharmacists, dentists, doctors, and vets, but it does not include physician assistants, nurses, and social workers.
"I think this is an opportunity for us to both support loan reform and recognize that artificially low caps on nursing harms patient communities and health systems," Darcy-Maroney said. "I don't think this is a red or blue issue, quite frankly, I think this is something that's going to impact lots of people."
Student loan debt totals $1.8 trillion, according to the Education Data Initiative. Federal student loans account for more than 95% of that.
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Currently, there are two primary federal graduate lending programs. As of next year, the Grad PLUS program, which allows grad students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, would be eliminated.
The President's Big Beautiful Bill would also lower unsubsidized Stafford Loan lifetime borrowing limits for graduate programs.
But at this point, it's unclear how the Department of Education will determine what graduate program is considered 'professional' or not.
"Education costs are high and responsible loan caps can help rein in tuition, but these limits must be appropriately applied," Darcy-Maroney said. "I think when we think about advanced practice nurses, they are often the first point of care for rural or underserved settings, often in the VA settings, and restricting loan access will restrict access to those most in need."