Hundreds of colleges, faculty and professional organizations submitted public comments urging the Education Department to modify or reverse proposed regulations that would sharply limit federal Grad PLUS loans. The Chronicle‑analyzed responses—numbering in the tens of thousands—argue that tighter loan caps will curtail access to graduate programs that supply nurses, social workers, public‑health professionals and other workforce‑critical fields. Institutions warned the change, tied to recent congressional legislation ending broad Grad PLUS eligibility, risks shrinking enrollment in ‘professional’ programs and deepening workforce shortages. Commenters asked the department to refine how disciplines are classified to protect health‑care and social‑service pipelines. The department is finalizing rules ahead of a July 1 effective date; colleges and advocates are seeking changes to avoid disrupting graduate enrollment and program viability.