Cap on Grad Loans Forces Future Doctors to Rethink Medical School

Trump’s sweeping plan caps federal loans for professional programs at $50,000 per year ($200,000 total) and eliminates Grad PLUS, a move supporters say will curb costs but critics warn will raise med-school barriers. Students like Eddie Jiang face tougher funding, potentially delaying or abandoning medical training and turning to private loans, which may be scarce or expensive. With med-school costs already high—roughly $298k for public and $408k for private four-year programs—experts caution the policy could worsen the doctor shortage, even as some officials claim it will pressure schools to reduce tuition. The policy reshapes how aspiring physicians finance education and could limit access to medical careers.