Immediate Action Required: Protect NP Education and Federal Loan Access

Dear Members,

On behalf of Association or Southeastern Minnesota Nurse Practitioners (ASMNP) I am reaching out with an urgent update regarding a federal policy proposal that threatens the stability of Nurse Practitioner (NP) education, the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) workforce pipeline, and statewide access to care.  A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is one of four types of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), alongside Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA). 

The U.S. Department of Education's proposed definition of “professional degree” does not include nursing and APRN programs.  Under this proposal, nursing and APRN programs would be excluded from the “professional degree” category.  This change would significantly reduce federal loan availability for NP and advanced nursing students, cutting post-baccalaureate loan access to cover APRN program costs. The result would be reduced enrollment capacity, workforce contraction, and negative downstream effects on patient access.

ASMNP strongly opposes the exclusion of nursing and APRN programs from the federal definition of “professional degree.” ASMNP supports the unified position of ANA, AACN, AANP, AANA, ACNM, MMNP, APRN Coalition, and other national and state organizations in advocating for access to federal loan programs that allow for appropriate nursing education borrowing needs. 

NPs are essential to Minnesota’s healthcare infrastructure. NPs deliver high-quality, evidence-based care in primary care, mental health, anesthesia, women’s health, pediatrics, specialty practice, and rural and underserved settings. They maintain continuity for patients with complex conditions and support hospital and clinic operations statewide. Reclassifying NP education as “nonprofessional” does not reflect the advanced clinical training, responsibility, or scope of practice required to ensure patient safety.

The cost of NP, DNP, and PhD programs already places a substantial financial burden on advancing nursing degrees. Current tuition levels demonstrate the real investment required for advanced clinical preparation:

• University of Minnesota DNP: ~$1,100/credit; ~80 credits; approx. $88,000 total
  
  
• Winona State University DNP: 72 credits at $1,164.05/credit + $27.72 fee; approx. $86,400 total
  
  
• Viterbo University DNP: 74 credits at $1,050/credit + $10 fee; approx. $79,360 total
  
  
• University of Minnesota Post-Master’s DNP: 36 credits; approx. $39,600 total
  
  

Reclassification would subject these programs to tuition caps that are not aligned with the cost of advanced clinical education. These caps are designed for degrees with significantly lower resource requirements and fail to account for clinical training, faculty expertise, preceptor demands, and regulatory standards. Institutions would be forced to absorb unsustainable losses or reduce academic quality. Many nurses particularly those from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds would lose access to graduate education, reducing educational equity and workforce diversity.

Southeastern Minnesota would be disproportionately affected. Regional access to advanced nursing education depends heavily on programs at Winona State University, Viterbo University, and University of Minnesota. Tuition caps misaligned with program costs would threaten program viability and restrict the pipeline of APRNs who serve southeastern Minnesota’s rural, aging, and underserved populations.

Restricting federal loan access will:

• Limit entry into NP and APRN programs
  
• Shrink the future NP workforce and reduce faculty supply
  
• Exacerbate statewide provider shortages
  
• Delay care and reduce access for rural and underserved communities
  
• Undermine continuity and quality across primary and specialty care
• Worsen health disparities and reduce patient options
  
  

These outcomes conflict with Minnesota’s healthcare needs and national workforce priorities.

ASMNP Calls for Immediate Policy Revision.  ASMNP urges the Department of Education to revise the proposed definition of “professional degree” to explicitly include nursing and APRN programs. 

Maintaining NP programs within the professional degree category is essential to preserving:

• Access to care for rural, underserved, and aging populations
  
• Continuity and quality across primary and specialty care
  
• Workforce sustainability amid provider shortages
  
• Educational equity for advancing nurses
  
• Strong health outcomes for Minnesotans
  
  

Removing NP programs from the professional degree category would undermine both the nursing profession and the health of our communities.

Action steps for ASMNP Members.  Your engagement is critical. Members are encouraged to:

• Sign the national petition:
  https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/professionaldegreepetition/
• Participate in the Department of Education public comment period (announcement anticipated January 2026)
• Contact federal lawmakers to support equitable federal loan access
  
• Share this information with colleagues, educators, and community stakeholders
  
  

ASMNP will continue to provide updates, action alerts, and advocacy resources.  Do not hesitate to reach out directly. 

Regards,
Jessica Richardson, APRN, CNP, MSN - ASMNP President 

Contact: info@asmnp

Mailing Address

The Association of Southeast Minnesota Nurse Practitioners
1529 Highway 14 E. Ste 200 #304
Rochester, MN 55904