Under the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill, a significant reclassification of graduate degree programs has been implemented, excluding several high-demand fields from being recognized as "professional" degrees for federal student loan purposes.

The U.S. Department of Education finalized the RISE rule on April 30, 2026, officially excluding nursing graduate programs (MSN, DNP) from the list of professional degrees. This change caps federal student loan borrowing for nursing students at $20,500 annually with a $100,000 aggregate limit, a sharp reduction compared to the $50,000 annual cap for degrees still deemed professional.

Degrees Affected by the New Classification

Beyond nursing, numerous other fields have been removed from the professional degree category despite requiring advanced credentials, licensure, and offering competitive median salaries. These include:

  • Physician Assistant (MMS/PA-C): Median salary $133,260; projected job growth +20%
  • Physical Therapy (DPT): Median salary $101,020; projected job growth +11%
  • Audiology (Au.D.): Median salary $92,120; projected job growth +9%
  • Occupational Therapy (OTD/MOT): Median salary $96,510; projected job growth +12%
  • Speech-Language Pathology (MS/CCC-SLP): Median salary $89,290; projected job growth +18%
  • Dental Hygiene (BSDH/MS): Median salary $87,530; projected job growth +8%
  • Social Work (MSW/DSW/LCSW): Median salary range $53,940–$77,030; projected job growth +6%
  • Architecture (M.Arch/B.Arch): Median salary ~$94,800; projected job growth +7%
  • Accounting (M.Acc/MAcc/CPA pathway): Median salary $79,880; projected job growth +6%
  • Education/Teaching (M.Ed./Ed.D.): Salary range $65,000–$80,000; steady job outlook
  • Public Health (MPH/DrPH): Median salary ~$79,430

Implications and Reactions

Many of these professions require rigorous licensure and clinical or professional certifications to practice. Despite this, their graduate programs no longer qualify for the higher federal loan borrowing limits, potentially creating financial barriers for students pursuing careers in these essential fields.

The exclusion of nursing, in particular, has drawn bipartisan criticism and legal challenges. Twenty-five states plus Washington, D.C., along with the American Nurses Association and other national nursing organizations, have filed lawsuits opposing the Department of Education’s decision.

Critics argue that this reclassification undermines workforce development in critical healthcare and public service sectors, especially as many of the excluded professions face strong employment growth projections.

Overview of the Professional Degree List Under New Rules

The administration's narrowed definition recognizes only a limited set of fields as professional degrees, including pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and theology. All other graduate programs, regardless of licensure requirements or salary potential, are classified as non-professional for federal loan purposes.

This policy shift contrasts sharply with previous standards, which offered more generous federal borrowing capacity to students across a wider range of graduate programs.