A federal judge's ruling has temporarily frozen the U.S. Department of Education's narrow definition of 'professional degrees,' which previously limited the number of programs eligible for higher federal student loan caps.
Under the Trump administration's 'one big beautiful bill act,' new graduate students were set to face a cap of $20,500 annually, while professional students could borrow up to $50,000. The judge's decision allows for an expanded list of over 20 professional degrees, including registered nursing and speech-language pathology, to qualify for these higher limits.
This is particularly important as women, who make up over 70% of graduates in programs previously excluded, stand to benefit significantly. Experts like Kathleen Boyd and Valerie Fuller have emphasized the ruling's positive implications for future healthcare professionals and the importance of staying informed about potential changes.
However, the overall loan caps established by the act remain unchanged, with professional students still able to borrow up to $200,000 in total and other graduate students limited to $100,000