Beginning July 1, 2026, students pursuing degrees in architecture, education, nursing, and several other fields will face sharply reduced federal loan limits after the U.S. government moves to reclassify these programs as non-professional degrees. The change introduced under President Donald Trump’s sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill, marks a major change in how the federal government values some of the country’s most socially essential professions.
Under the new rules, the long-standing federal loan system will be replaced by a single Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). The plan sets strict borrowing caps that distinguish between professional and graduate students. Those whose programs fall into the non-professional category, will be allowed to borrow up to $20,500 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $100,000. Far less than the current policy, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of their program.
Students in programs that are still recognized as professional, such as medicine or law, will retain the higher borrowing ceiling of $50,000 annually and $200,000 total.
The decision has ignited frustration and fear among students and professional groups, who argue that the government is misreading the nature of their work. As for architecture students, who typically spend years in studios, internships and licensing exams, the new limits could make the path into the profession financially impossible.
the American Institute of Architects (AIA) wrote in a sharply worded response – “the title of architect is earned through years of rigorous education and licensing”. Cutting loan access, they argue, means fewer young people entering the field and a potential decline in innovation and safety standards in the built environment.
The concern is even more acute for nursing and allied health fields. With the U.S. still struggling to stabilize its healthcare workforce post-pandemic, nursing schools warn that the rule could worsen shortages in hospitals and clinics nationwide.
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