ANA-Led Lawsuit Wins Early Court Victory

July 2026 Update

The effort to restore nursing’s recognition as a professional degree has taken an important step forward. On May 29, 2026, the American Nurses Association (ANA), joined by nine national nursing organizations, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to exclude post-baccalaureate nursing programs from the federal definition of “professional degree” programs. The plaintiffs argued that the Department exceeded its legal authority and that the policy would create unnecessary barriers to advanced nursing education at a time of significant healthcare workforce shortages.

In late June 2026, a federal judge issued a preliminary ruling blocking the Department from enforcing its narrowed definition of “professional degree” while the litigation proceeds. Although the broader student loan changes remain in effect, the court’s order prevents the Department from implementing the new definition that excludes nursing, preserving access to the higher professional-degree loan limits during the litigation.

Although the court’s ruling provides important temporary protection, it is not the final word. The Nursing Is a Professional Degree Act, now pending in Congress, would permanently restore nursing’s recognition as a professional degree in federal law. The lawsuit has paused the immediate threat; the legislation offers a lasting solution. Together, they represent two complementary paths toward protecting advanced nursing education and the healthcare workforce that communities across the nation depend upon.

Learn More

• ANA press release: National Nursing Organizations File Nurse-Forward Lawsuit
• AACN announcement and legal action: AACN Legal Action to Recognize Nursing as a Professional Degree
• Court complaint and filings: Professional Degree Lawsuit and Legislation (case documents and updates)