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.
