Universities are scrambling to respond as federal policymakers consider capping graduate borrowing and redefining a list of 'professional' programs eligible for higher loan limits. Proposed rules would create larger caps for fields labeled professional, while others face lower lifetime limits — prompting institutions to reassess program marketing and student aid advising. In Congress, bipartisan lawmakers urged the Education Department to add nursing to the professional programs list after administrators omitted it, arguing that the change would constrain access to essential workforce credentials. Colleges warn loan limits could affect graduate enrollment, program viability and workforce pipelines in health care and other sectors.