The U.S. government just announced a big change that will affect many students starting July 1, 2026.
Some degrees—like architecture, education, nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, and social work—will no longer be treated as professional degrees.
This matters because it changes how much money students can borrow for school.
What’s Changing?
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will replace old student loan programs with the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
Under RAP:
If your degree is not considered “professional”:
- You can borrow up to $20,500 a year
- Up to $100,000 total
If your degree is a “professional degree”:
- You can borrow up to $50,000 a year
- Up to $200,000 total
Before this, students could borrow as much as their degree cost, even if the tuition was much higher.
Now many students—especially those in nursing and architecture—may not have enough federal loan money to finish their programs.
Why Are People Upset?
Architects Are Pushing Back
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) says this decision is wrong.
They explain that becoming an architect takes years of hard classes, exams, and licensing.
They worry the lower loan limits will:
- Make it harder for future students to join the field
- Reduce the number of trained architects
- Hurt the U.S. design and construction industry
Nursing Leaders Are Worried Too
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says the new rules could harm the nursing workforce, which is already struggling with shortages.
Nursing programs are long, tough, and expensive. Many students rely on federal loans to finish.
If students can’t borrow enough:
- Fewer people may study nursing
- Hospitals could face more shortages
- Patient care could suffer
More Degrees May Also Be Affected
According to early reports, other programs at risk of losing “professional degree” status include:
- Engineering
- Counseling and therapy
- Speech pathology
- MBA (business degrees)
Details are still being finalized, so more changes may come.
What This Means for Students
If you are planning to study any of these degrees, here’s what you may face:
- Lower federal loan limits
- Possible need for private loans
- Higher out-of-pocket costs
- Harder time paying for school
This change could make certain careers less affordable for many students.
Summary
The government is changing the rules for student loans.
Many degrees—like nursing, teaching, and architecture—will no longer be called professional degrees.
This means students will not be able to borrow as much money for school.
Schools, nursing groups, and architectural groups are asking the government to rethink the decision.