The Trump administration has officially excluded several key degree programs including nursing, architecture and accounting from its classification of professional degrees, a move that could significantly impact student loan eligibility for thousands of students, including many from India pursuing higher education in the United States.
Which Degrees Lost Professional Status?
According to the regulatory definition published in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (34 CFR 668.2), the following degree programs are not classified as professional under the new guidelines implemented as part of President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (OBBBA):
- Nursing
- Physician assistants
- Physical therapists
- Audiologists
- Architects
- Accountants
- Educators
- Social workers
The decision, published on 21 November 2025, comes as the Department of Education prepares to implement various measures that could reduce financial aid for students enrolled in programs not deemed professional.
Impact on Student Loan Access
The reclassification matters significantly because the Department of Education uses this definition to determine student loan eligibility and amounts. Students pursuing degrees now excluded from the professional category may no longer receive the same level of financial support.
According to reports from Nurse.org, the OBBBA caps undergraduate loans and eliminates the GRAD PLUS program for graduate and professional students. This could create substantial financial barriers for students in affected programs, particularly those from international backgrounds including Indian students who often rely on educational loans to fund their US studies.
Healthcare Sector Voices Concerns
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has expressed deep concerns about the Department of Education's decision. The organization emphasized that excluding nursing from the professional degree classification could have far-reaching consequences for America's healthcare workforce.
AACN recognizes that explicitly including post-baccalaureate nursing education as professional is essential for strengthening the nation's healthcare workforce, supporting the next generation of nurses, and ultimately supporting the healthcare of patients in communities across the country, the association stated in their official response.
The timing of this decision raises concerns about potential workforce shortages in critical healthcare fields, especially as the country continues to address healthcare challenges.
What Qualifies as Professional Degrees?
Under the new regulations, professional degrees are defined as those that meet specific criteria including requiring at least six academic years of postsecondary education, generally being at doctoral level, and mandating professional licensure to begin practice.
The degrees that retain professional status include:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Law
- Veterinary medicine
- Osteopathic medicine
- Podiatry
- Chiropractic
- Theology
- Clinical psychology
The exclusion of nursing, architecture and accounting from this list represents a significant shift in how these established professions are recognized within the US education system, with potential implications for international student enrollment patterns and career choices.
