The change in funding for nursing programs deserves attention, but I believe there is a gap in the media’s view of this issue. There is a common argument that most nurses don’t need a graduate degree, so it doesn’t matter that their options for aid are being slashed. While it is true that most nurses don’t hold a graduate degree, a Master’s or Doctorate degree is required for those who want to become a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, physical therapist or audiologist, all of which have also been removed from the list of professional degrees. These occupations are projected to grow from nine to 35 percent from 2024 to 2034 as the older adult population grows. With shortages in healthcare positions being reported already, and with demand projected to grow faster than supply through 2037, this is a scary time to cut funding for students intending to join this high-stress workforce. The U.S. Department of Education press release, “Myth vs. Fact: The Definition of “Professional Degrees,” claims that this change will reduce tuition costs, as federal loans have historically allowed universities to take advantage of students and over-charge for their programs. Their cited evidence is that a single private law school, Santa Clara Law, is providing scholarships to offset the anticipated pressure caused by OBBBA. The tuition at Santa Clara Law is over $63k a year; 13k higher than the allowed federal borrowing limit set by the government. This school is promising yearly $12.5-$16k scholarships to their students, essentially compensating for changes in federal loan allowances. This is an incredible humanitarian move by Santa Clara Law, but the expectation that all schools will follow suit is fantastical, and I don’t consider it to be enough evidence to support the argument made in the press release. Public schools, including undergraduate and graduate level universities, are chronically underfunded. I don’t think most schools can afford to promise scholarships to every student or drop tuition rates to fit into new government standards. If students have less money available, universities will eventually have to drop their rates, but this change will take a long time to take effect. What I believe is more likely to happen in the short term is that enrollment in public institutions will drop and many students will fall victim to predatory loans.