The Department of Education has issued a proposed rule that would define “professional student” for purposes of determining federal student loan amounts based on the type of program in which a student is enrolled.
Under the proposal, “professional students” would be those enrolled in one of 11 designated professional degree programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, theology and clinical psychology. Students enrolled in these programs would qualify for up to $50,000 in federal loans per year, with a $200,000 aggregate limit. All other graduate students would be eligible only for up to $20,500 in federal student loans per year, with a $100,000 aggregate limit.
This narrow definition of “professional degree programs” leaves out art therapy as well as many other critical health professions, from nursing and physical therapy to social work. At a time when our nation is experiencing health care workforce shortages, this will further hinder access to care.
Art therapists and art therapy students have relied on federal loans to help pay for their graduate education. If these rules are finalized, art therapy students would not be able to borrow more than $100,000 through federal student loans beginning July 1, 2026.
