Newsweek: What Degrees Not Being Classified as ‘Professional’ Mean for Student Loans

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has updated its definition of “professional” degrees, and student loans could be affected in the long term.

Under the revamped definition of “professional degree” programs, nursing and other key health care jobs have been excluded, triggering financial concerns for many.

Under Trump's fiscal plan, undergraduate loan caps are set, and the GRAD PLUS program is eliminated. There’s also a new Repayment Assistance Plan, but only students pursuing a “professional” degree can borrow up to $50,000 per year.

Because of this stipulation, there are long-standing consequences for those in majors and degrees not deemed “professional” by the DOE’s new framework.

The fields determined as "professional" by the DOE now include:

• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry
• Optometry
• Law
• Veterinary medicine
• Osteopathic medicine
• Podiatry
• Chiropractic
• Theology
• Clinical psychology

Nurses, APRNs, Physician Assistants and Physical Therapists are all excluded from the list.

In the long run, experts say, they could ultimately lead fewer students to enter these professions entirely. In health care fields like nursing, the revisions could be especially harmful, particularly given labor shortages.

Next steps:

Add your voice to the public comments

• Register for an account: https://lnkd.in/epA_JQCw 
• Review the proposed rule in the Federal Register.
• Submit a written public comment. 
• Be clear about the impact on nursing access, workforce equity, and patient care.

 

Contact your Senators and House Representatives and let them know you disagree with this decision. To find your elected officials, look up by your address at https://www.govtrack.us/

 

Encourage others to submit comments.