New ‘Professional’ definition will affect Grad loans
The Department of Education is almost done dividing undergraduate degrees into a new set of rules that will determine how much students can borrow from the federal government.
At the heart of this business is the legalization of the term “degree,” which in the past has often been used to refer to programs tied to a specific profession, such as medical school or medical school. Although not finalized yet, the Ministry has chosen a small definition of the next name for the Resembing cycles discussed which ended this month. The decision effectively cuts funding opportunities to a portion of students who fall outside the new definition.
The restructuring is part of a wider effort by the Ministry of Education to implement key provisions from the President’s “MOST IMPORTANT BOARD”.
Among several changes to the Federal Student Ebond, the law sets a new loan limit for advanced college degrees. For graduate students, the limit is $20,500 per year ($100,000 amount), while “Professional” students receive an annual limit of $50,200,000). The lending limits go into effect on July 1, 2026. All the new limits represent more cap timp lending compared to the current rules that are allowed to borrow any amount of money.
A new definition of ‘Scrofeti’
Under the new proposal, a “degree program” must meet three main criteria.
You must teach students about a job that requires skills beyond the bachelor’s level. Education must be at the doctoral level and requires at least six years of college education to complete, including two years above the Bachelor’s Level. And the profession itself must generally require a license to begin practicing. (The description is not a reflection of expertiseas in the quality or authenticity of the field of study.)
Examples of programs that meet this definition include doctoral programs in law, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, medicine, optometry, ophthalmology, theology and related fields.
Notably, the definition does not include advanced degrees in nursing, physical therapy or engineering, which are often considered colloquial.
Students in programs that do not meet this new definition will be limited to $100,000 in Federal Student Loans. The Department of Education says the new loan limits are necessary because the previous rules used trusted colleges to offer expensive programs and make it easier for students to cover them.
“This will help lenders who will no longer be involved in unsecured debt financing,” education secretary Nicholas Kent said in an announcement earlier this month.
Raised face pressed back
Several education advocacy groups have expressed concern that the new definition could make things worse for graduate students with private student loans after reaching the Federal Loan Mach.
According to the National Association of Marketing Cheeges and universities, the new interpretation of technical degrees excludes about 90% of all graphic programs and prevents the cap “to find new and emerging technologies.”
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, President of the American Nurses Association, said the loan limit of $ 100,000 for Grad students especially related to nurses.
“I completed all my education over 20 years ago, and I paid $100,000,” Kennedy said. “This education is very expensive today.”
Accordingly, Lancette Vanguilder, President of the American Dental Hygienist Association, reviewed the new classification on Friday. Dentists meet the definition of a professional student, while hygienists are broader.
“Reducing Access to Student Loans for Students Will Force Students to Seek Private Loans with Higher Interest Rates,” said Vanguild, “Making quality education less available when we need it most.”
Meanwhile in social media, lenders are rushing for change.
“If the Department of Education doesn’t recognize our degrees, we won’t approve our student loans,” said Ariana Jasmine in the X post. “It’s that simple.”
On reddit, some users noted that even for degrees qualified as “professional,” the loan limit is very low.
“This sounds like animation,” wrote one employee, writing that medical doctors often pay more than $ 200,000 in mortgage loans.
The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment.
“This is devastating,” Kennedy and the Nurses Association. “We hope they change this proposal.”
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