https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/21/what-considered-professional-degree-explained/87396245007/
Nursing is not a 'professional degree' amidst student loan changes
What is a professional degree?
The confusion and controversy stem from a 1965 federal law, which defines a "professional degree" as one that "signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor's degree."
The definition goes on to list examples of a professional degree, including:
Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)
Law (L.L.B. or J.D.)
Medicine (M.D.)
Optometry (O.D.)
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)
Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.)
While the definition states that the list is not exhaustive and that professional licensure is also generally required, past Department of Education committee meetings this fall to discuss student loan regulations and other issues have used the initial description that includes only those ten degrees.
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Graduate students pursuing "professional degrees" on the defined list are able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 overall. But for students in graduate programs that are not considered "professional degrees," loans are capped at $20,500 per year. Graduate programs are limited to $100,000 overall.
This means students in programs not listed on the list or defined as a "professional degree" could face a lower loan cap when pursuing those programs. The loan changes — and overall adjustments to higher education finances and funding — are slated to take effect on July 1, 2026.
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