WASHINGTON (AP) — Students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and several other fields will be eligible to take out higher federal student loan amounts — at least for now — after a federal judge blocked part of a Trump administration rule that held them to lower limits.
The U.S. Education Department issued a revised rule on Monday designed to follow the judge's order from last week, officials told The Associated Press. Agency officials called it a temporary change while they fight in court to keep the original rule, which defined medicine, law and other fields as “professional programs” but excluded fields such as nursing.
The department disagrees with the judge's order but will comply, even as officials plan to prevail in the case over which degrees are defined as “professional,” Undersecretary Nicholas Kent said in a statement. “We will continue to make the case that the definition is both lawful and appropriate,” he said.
The change represents a short-term win for groups that sued to stop the rule. Eight groups challenged the department's definition in court, representing nurse practitioners, therapists, speech language pathologists and more.
But in strictly applying the judge's order, the department is now striking some degrees from the list of professional programs, meaning those students will face lower loan limits. Theology studies programs are among the biggest to shift from professional to non-professional degrees in the shuffle, subjecting theology students to a lower student loan limit. The master of divinity degree — a common degree for pastors and ministers — remains on the professional list, with a more generous student loan limit.
The new rule, which takes effect Wednesday, comes from a student loan overhaul passed in President Donald Trump's tax bill last year. Programs designated as professional degrees face federal loan caps of $200,000, while other graduate programs are capped at $100,000.
Previously, graduate students had been able to take out federal loans up to the full cost of their degree. Trump officials pushed for new loan caps to rein in student debt and lower tuition prices that they said had grown out of control.
The groups that brought the lawsuit said the rule would require students to forgo their studies or take out riskier private loans. Although many graduate nursing degrees fall within the lower loan limits, some can cost more than $100,000, including in high-demand fields like nurse anesthesia.
In a notification to universities on Monday, the Education Department said it's confident the Trump administration's initial rule will ultimately be upheld in court. The amended rule is expected to remain in effect during the judge's preliminary stay, but the department warned that it “may change as litigation in the case proceeds.”
The original rule included about a dozen programs that were deemed professional, which Trump officials had said was not a judgment on their importance but part of a technical definition dating to the 1960s. Along with law and medicine, that list also included theology, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, clinical psychology and more.
The temporary rule expands that list to 29 specific degree programs, including master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and doctor of nurse anesthesia practice. Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants.
The department's communication listed about 25 programs that are now considered non-professional degrees. Along with theology, that list now includes applied psychology, pharmaceutical sciences and others. (The doctor of pharmacy degree remains professional.)
Last week's court ruling blocked parts of the Education Department's definition that were added in a federal rulemaking process. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington called it a “misguided” interpretation that strayed from a longstanding definition created by Congress.
The department's definition laid out several criteria used to weigh if degrees count as professional programs. It said those degrees generally take six years to complete and require licenses to begin practicing, among other requirements.
It also said professional degrees cannot lead to employment that must be "be supervised by another professional" with “more education, training, and qualifications.”
A separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of Democratic-led states challenging the loan caps is still pending.
Associated Press Writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed to this report from Kansas City.
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FILE - The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The Vancouver Canucks added veteran depth by acquiring Brendan Gallagher in a trade with Montreal on Monday, with NHL teams busy revamping their rosters two days before the free-agency period opens.
In the meantime, the Florida Panthers acquired Anaheim captain Radko Gudas by trading forward A.J. Greer to the Ducks in a deal involving two pending unrestricted free agents. The teams now have an exclusive negotiating window to sign the players by Wednesday.
Montreal acquired future considerations and agreed to retain 50% of the $6.5 million the 34-year-old Gallagher is scheduled to make in the final season of his contract.
Gallagher spent 14 seasons in Montreal and enjoys a homecoming. He grew up in suburban Vancouver, and played for the Western Hockey League Vancouver Giants.
He and the Canadiens reached a mutual agreement to part ways after Gallagher's playing time began to diminish. He appeared in just three playoff games in Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.
“It was maybe the worst-kept secret that this was kind of what I had hoped for, anyways, for both myself as a professional, but also my family,” Gallagher said during a video conference call. “This is just the best-case scenario.”
A fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft, Gallagher established himself as a respected leader in Montreal, and topped 20 goals five times, including a career-best 33 in 2018-19.
“We love the way he completes and leads by example,” Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said. “Bringing in veterans like Brendan will help us set the standard for our younger guys to follow.”
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes thanked Gallagher for his contributions in Montreal.
“Brendan will always hold a special place in the hearts of Canadiens fans. He represented the team with such tremendous determination, passion and inspiring courage," Hughes said. “He is the very definition of a warrior, always putting the team’s success ahead of his own individual accolades.”
Gudas is a 36-year-old defenseman and returns to Florida after leaving the Panthers in July 2023 to sign a three-year contract with the Ducks.
The 29-year-old Greer is on the move for the fifth time through nine NHL seasons, and after scoring a career-best 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) last season, his second in Florida.
“Radko Gudas captained our club with heart and soul over the last two seasons while making a great impact in our community,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said, before expressing hope to sign Greer to a new contract.
It was the second trade of the day for the rebuilding Canucks after finishing last in the standings. Vancouver acquired a 2029 third-round pick in a deal that sent winger Nils Hoglander to Nashville.
The Predators continued revamping under new general manager Chris MacFarland. Hoglander has six years of NHL experience and missed a majority of last season after having ankle surgery. He finished with two goals and three assists in 38 games.
“He is a 25-year-old experienced winger who is known for his relentless, high-energy style of play, bringing a consistent motor to the lineup night after night,” MacFarland said. “We believe the player can come in and have a key role.”
The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract to retain the pending unrestricted free agent.
The average salary of $2.9 million more than doubles the $1.35 million Malenstyn made in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo. Last season, Malenstyn set a Sabres' single-season record with 282 hits and finished second on the team with 75 blocked shots. He scored a career-high seven goals as part of a 14-point season.
The sixth-year NHL player spent his first four seasons in Washington and was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent a second-round pick to the Capitals at the 2024 draft.
The San Jose Sharks signed newly acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.
The 26-year-old was a pending restricted free agent, and was acquired by San Jose in a trade with Buffalo two weeks ago.
As part of the deal, the teams swapped first-round draft picks with the Sabres moving up seven spots in the order to No. 20 on Friday night.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman completed his fourth NHL season, and first in Buffalo. After topping 20 points with Arizona and Utah in each of his previous two seasons, Kesselring was limited by a nagging lower body injury and finished with two assists in 34 games last season.
— Pittsburgh acquired pending restricted free agent forward David Gustafsson in a deal that sent defenseman Jack St. Ivany to Winnipeg. The 26-year-old Gustafsson has appeared in 149 NHL games with Winnipeg since 2019-20, and spent last season in the minors. St. Ivany has nine assists in 53 games over three seasons with the Penguins.
— Toronto re-signed defenseman Troy Stecher to a two-year contract extension following a season in which the 32-year-old had three goals and 14 points in 58 games with Toronto. He was claimed by Toronto in November after being waived by Edmonton.
AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno and The Canadian Press contributed.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
FILE - Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Feb. 5, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas skates during an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Feb. 27, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
FILE - Montréal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher in action during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, April 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)
FILE - Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL Hockey game against the Washington Capitals, April 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell, file)
