The U.S. The Department of Education has proposed narrowing the definition of ‘professional’ students under the implementation of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA). This proposal would limit higher federal loan caps to eleven specific fields. Under this proposal, students enrolled under the eleven ‘professional’ fields may borrow up to $50,000 annually, while any other student will be capped at $20,500. With Grad PLUS loans being eliminated effective July 1, 2026, institutions may see a shift in student demographics as those from lower-income backgrounds are forced toward riskier private loans or out of graduate education entirely. Higher education institutions and associations are actively advocating for its reconsideration.
