ACE to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid

On Tuesday, February 10, at 3pm Eastern, the American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and interested parties titled, “Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid”. Jessica Blake of Inside Higher Ed will moderate a panel featuring Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and others.

More details are here. ACE put out a two-page document here with background and talking points on the issue.

House Passes and President Trump Signs FY 26 Labor-HHS Bill Package, Ending Partial Government Shutdown

This afternoon, the House, in a 217-214 vote, passed the five-bill spending package funding the FY 26 Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State bills through the remainder of the current fiscal year, along with a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the Homeland Security bill through February 13. 21 Democrats joined most Republicans in support, while 21 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition. Prior to final passage, the House voted 217-215 to adopt the rule to consider the legislation, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) joining all Democrats in opposition. The Senate passed the package on Friday, and President Trump signed this package this afternoon, ending the partial government shutdown which began at midnight on Friday.

A statement from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, is here.

Senate Passes Funding Package Including the Labor-HHS Bill

On Friday evening, in a bipartisan 71-29 vote, and after Senators and the White House forged a compromise deal yesterday, the Senate passed a FY 26 funding package comprised of the Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State appropriations bills. Those bills would be funded through September, the remainder of the fiscal year. 

The Senate also passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13, allowing more time for Congress and the White House to negotiate that bill. 

The five-bill funding package and Homeland Security CR now need to be passed in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he hopes to bring up the bills under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process which requires a two-thirds vote in the House. A vote is expected as early as Monday. The likelihood of quick House passage remains uncertain.

The current CR for the six FY 26 bills, including the Labor-HHS bill, expired at midnight on Friday, triggering a partial government shutdown lasting until the House passes the funding package and President Trump signs the bills. 

Department of Education Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Comment Period on Higher Education Loan Caps

Yesterday the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing changes to the Higher Education Act (HEA) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, following the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) negotiated rulemaking committee reaching consensus on the package of proposed regulations in November. 

The proposed regulation sets new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. Graduate students would be limited to $20,500 in student loans per year (an up to $100,000 aggregate cap), while professional students would be limited to $50,000 in federal student loans per year (an up to $200,000 lifetime cap). The regulation narrows the programs that qualify as professional degrees, meaning students pursuing an array of advanced degrees in high-demand professions—such as allied health, nursing, and public health—would not be able to borrow as much as those in unaffected fields. The regulations would also eliminate the Grad PLUS program and multiple loan repayment options, limit Parent PLUS, and introduces streamlined repayment options for borrowers.

Since this issue arose, ASAHP has joined other organizations in outreach to the Department of Education (here, here, and here), urging that health professions programs qualify for the professional degree caps and expressing concern that a new, narrow definition of what constitutes a professional degree will deepen the health workforce shortage by creating uncertainty and limiting access to vital support for students entering critical health fields.

Public comment on the proposed regulations is now open through March 2. The Department of Education press release is here. The NPRM is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here. 

House Passes FY 26 House Labor-HHS Bill, Senate Consideration Next Week

Yesterday, the House passed a spending package, closing out its work on FY 26 appropriations. After passing the Homeland Security bill, the House passed a three-bill “minibus” package including the Labor-HHS, Defense, and Transportation-HUD bills in a bipartisan 341-88 vote. The Senate is expected to take up its remaining bills, including the House pass Labor-HHS bill, in a six-bill minibus package to expedite their passage in advance of the January 30 funding deadline. Once passed by the Senate, these appropriations are expected to be signed by the President.  

The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) has produced a chart on Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII and VIII Health Workforce Programs funding, which may be accessed here.

ACE Issues Talking Points on Graduate and Professional Student Loan Limits

The American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, has released talking points on graduate and professional student loan limits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).

ASAHP is deeply concerned ED’s recent narrowing of programs that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees excludes health professions education. In November, ED launched the first phase of its regulatory process for the student financial aid provisions of the OBBBA, restricting the professions that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees. Unfortunately, ED's proposal leaves out essential health professions, including allied health, nursing, and public health, from the category of ‘professional’ degrees—ignoring decades of precedent affirming these fields as professional programs. Several bills on the issue have been introduced in Congress, and the Department of Education will be issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which will have a public comment period before a final rule is issued.

The talking points are available here.

Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking on Accreditation

This week the Department of Education announced its intent to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee. The committee will address the following topics: deregulation, student outcomes, merit, and integrity. The deadline to submit nominations for negotiators is February 26. The committee will convene for two five-day sessions in April and May. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.  

Rep. Lawler Introduces the Professional Student Degree Act

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act in the House yesterday. The legislation defines what constitutes a professional degree program, and adds to a list of examples of such programs, including “nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.” ASAHP supports the Professional Student Degree Act.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.

A press release from Rep. Lawler is available here. The bill text is available here.

Rep. Debbie Dingell Introduces the Clarity in Professional Degree Act

On Tuesday, Rep. Debbie Dingell introduced the Clarity in Professional Degree Act, “legislation aimed at restoring and protecting access for federal student aid after the Department of Education narrowed the definition of ‘professional degree,’ threatening access to loans for students in critical health and education fields.”

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY) each introduced bills on the issue last week, and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced a bill on the issue earlier this week.

More details on Rep. Dingell’s bill are here.

Inside Higher Ed: Grad Programs Brace for Loan Caps

Most of the colleges with the largest graduate programs in the country don’t have clear plans for how they’ll deal with new loan caps, set to kick in next July. And if they do, they aren’t taking publicly about it.

For years, students could borrow essentially unlimited funds to pay for graduate education, thanks to a program known as Grad PLUS that capped loans at the cost of attendance. Republicans in Congress and other critics have argued that colleges took advantage of this program and raised their prices, fueling the student debt crisis. Loans for grad students make up nearly half of the federal loan portfolio.

Along the way, colleges have begun to rely on graduate education to fund their university operations, higher ed experts say.

Read the full article on Inside Higher Ed here.

Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act

On Thursday, Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduced the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act, “legislation to reverse recent reductions in federal loan availability for graduate and professional students. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore the full loan limits that were narrowed” in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA). ASAHP supports the legislation.

The OBBA set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.

More details are here.

ASAHP Urges the Department of Education to Modify the Definition of Professional Degrees

 In response to the Department of Education’s (ED) recent interpretation of which academic programs qualify as ‘professional’ versus ‘graduate’ degrees,

The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) is deeply concerned ED’s recent narrowing of programs that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees excludes health professions education.

 In early November, ED launched the first phase of its regulatory process for the student financial aid provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), restricting the professions that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees. Unfortunately, ED's proposal leaves out essential health professions, including allied health, nursing, and public health, from the category of ‘professional’ degrees—ignoring decades of precedent affirming these fields as professional programs.

 Under this new classification, students in health professions and public-service programs will lose access to higher federal loan limits, forcing many to rely on the lower cap—or private loans—despite often substantial tuition costs. While some students may turn to private lenders for additional support once federal aid limits are reached, not all will qualify, and those who do may face higher interest rates. This creates a financial disincentive for students to enter the health professions exactly at the time when we will need them the most.

 Limiting financial access to graduate-level health professions education will lead to lower enrollment, fewer trained professionals, worsening health workforce shortages, and diminished access to care.

 Moreover, amid existing shortages in key health-care sectors—such as allied health, nursing, and public health—reducing financial support could make these essential professions even harder to staff, further limiting access to care, particularly in underserved communities.

The demand for health professions education in the United States is enormous. Our population is aging rapidly: by 2040, roughly one in five Americans will be 65 or older, up from one in eight in 2000. The number of adults aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050. As a result, health professionals will be essential to care for our aging society and represent some of the fastest-growing occupations in the economy. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects that more than half of the twenty fastest-growing professions over the next decade will be in the health sector.

John Colbert, Executive Director for ASAHP, said, “This severe restriction in ED’s current definition of which professions qualify as “professional” degrees will have far-reaching consequences on health professions. At a time when health needs are growing, the Department of Education risks undermining workforce capacity across allied health, nursing, public health, and other non-physician professions. We strongly urge the Department to revise its definition and recognize the full scope of health professions. Doing so is critical for the health and well-being of our nation.”

Added Jon Williamson, President of ASAHP, “I’ve heard concerns from many of our member institutions about this issue. Considering that up to 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce falls under ‘health professions,’ it’s hard to imagine a stronger argument for why these programs should be classified alongside the other qualifying healthcare related professional degree programs.” 

To date ASAHP has joined with a coalition of Healthcare Providers and Health Professions Programs seeking to ensure health professions are included as professional degrees as the regulatory process moves forward. In addition, ASAHP has signed on to letters to the Department of Education as well as Congressional Leadership advocating for this important change. We will continue to keep our membership informed of the latest developments.

Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy Introduces the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act

On Wednesday, Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY) introduced the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. The bill ensures graduate students, as defined by the Department, have access to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregately and thus the same limits as professional students. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs. ASAHP supports the LEAP Act.

A press release from Rep. Kennedy is available here [updated to include the December 17 press release].

Also, Rep. Kennedy led 69 of his colleagues in a letter to the Department of Education regarding the Department’s negotiated rulemaking.

The LEAP Act is available here.

Inside Higher Ed: How the Loan Cap Committee Reached Consensus

The Department of Education and its rule-making committee tasked with determining how to implement Congress’s latest loan caps reached consensus Thursday, but that doesn’t mean everyone involved was happy with the results—or that the policy proposal is guaranteed to be legally sound, some higher education experts say.

The key focus of the regulations, which should be published to the Federal Register by early next year, was to determine which degree programs should be eligible for which level of loans.

Read the full article here.