You make some majors free what is the incentive for the college to get rid of the bad students ? They want that free tuition and also what stops the school from setting tuition at $100,000 a year ? The student won’t care because it’s free, the tax payers will be stuck with the bill and likely also get a bunch of crappy nurses.
I like the practice of forgiving loans for people working in needed professions in less than desirable areas. But would have the right amount of nurses in the economy far outweigh the investment we put into that profession?