ARCHITECTURE, EDUCATION, AND NURSING TO NO LONGER BE REGARDED AS PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN U.S

Beginning on July 1, 2026, reduced student loans will be accessible for people in a variety of disciplines, including education and architecture. This is because the U.S. government no longer recognises these occupations as professional degrees, which will restrict the borrowing amounts for these programs chosen by the Department of Education and in accordance with President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.

The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace all previous loan programs and set a limit on the amount that can be borrowed. The bill states that “graduate students,” or “not professional students,” can take out loans of up to $20,500 annually, with a total limit of $100,000. At the same time, “professional students” are eligible to take out loans of as much as $50,000 annually and a cumulative total of $200,000. Before this, graduate students had the option to take out loans equivalent to their degree expenses.

These changes have met with strong opposition from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as they reject the idea that architects are not professionals. “The title of ‘architect’ is acquired through years of intensive education, a plethora of professional exams, and a challenging licensing process,” they state. “Classifying otherwise would disregard the expertise, professional standards, and dedication that characterise the profession. Reducing the loan cap will decrease the number of architects able to afford this professional degree, thereby harming American leadership in this area.

Students pursuing degrees in nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, and social work will also be impacted, as these fields are now considered non-professional. This has led the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to state the new potential designation.

“The Department’s proposal defines professional programs so narrowly that, despite widespread acknowledgement of the complexity, rigour, and necessity of post-baccalaureate nursing education, nursing—being the largest healthcare profession in the nation—is excluded,” writes the AACN. “If this proposal is finalised, it would have a devastating effect on our nursing workforce, which is already facing challenges.”

It has not yet been determined which degrees will be affected, and this information could change prior to the policy's implementation. As reported by Newsweek, fields such as engineering, counselling or therapy, speech pathology, and holding a master's in business may also be at risk of not being deemed “professional,” making them ineligible for larger loans.