IL HJR0053

Opposes a proposed U.S. Department of Education rule under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 that would exclude graduate degrees in nursing, social work, counseling, therapy, education, and allied health from the "professional degrees" definition for federal student loans.

Reclassification would reduce federal student loan limits for degrees including MSW, DNP, MSN, DPT, MPH, and master's degrees in counseling, education, and physician assistant studies, potentially forcing students to use higher-cost private loans.

Cites workforce shortages including approximately 74,000 annual openings for social workers nationwide and a shortage of approximately 295,800 registered nurses as of 2025, with deficits projected through 2037.

Notes the policy would disproportionately impact women (75-85% of students and practitioners in affected fields) and create barriers for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.

Urges the U.S. Department of Education to include these degrees in the "professional degrees" definition and commits Illinois to exploring state-level solutions including scholarships, grants, and loan repayment assistance programs.