What degrees are not considered professional under Trump?

The Trump administration's Department of Education proposed rules in late 2025 that redefined "professional degrees" for federal loan limits, removing fields like nursing, physician assistant (PA), physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), audiology, social work, and public health from the higher-limit category, affecting loan caps for advanced degrees in these essential healthcare professions. While the Department called it a loan system distinction, not a value judgment, critics argued it would make advanced education unaffordable, potentially worsening critical workforce shortages, particularly in nursing.

What majors are no longer considered professional?

Left out are nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy and social work as well as fields outside of health care such as architecture, education and accounting. While the plan is still being finalized, the new student loan caps would take effect next July.

What degrees are being reclassified?

Yet a proposed ruling from the U.S. Department of Education threatens this model by reclassifying essential health science degrees (including nursing, public health, physician assistant studies, audiology, social work, and physical therapy) and stripping them of their “professional” status.

What degrees are considered professional now?

Currently, 11 main degrees would be considered professional under the draft rule. Those degrees, almost all of which are doctoral, include: medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law, theology, and clinical psychology.

What's the difference between professional and non-professional degrees?

Unlike their professional degree counterparts, non-professional degree programs do not typically prepare students for an immediate career path after graduation. Professional degree programs have key characteristics that distinguish them from non-professional degree programs.

Nursing not considered a 'professional degree' by Trump administration

What are the 4 types of degrees?

The four main types of college degrees, in ascending order of study, are Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral (or Doctorate), with associate and bachelor's being undergraduate, and master's and doctoral degrees being graduate-level, representing increasing specialization and advanced study.
 

Is nursing no longer considered a professional degree?

No, nursing is still a professional field, but the U.S. Department of Education recently proposed a narrower definition of "professional degree" for federal student loan purposes, potentially impacting advanced nursing students by capping loan amounts, a move met with significant concern from nursing organizations like the AACN and ANA, who argue it hinders workforce growth by increasing education costs for crucial roles like nurse practitioners. This change doesn't affect licensure but could make graduate nursing education, vital for expanding the workforce, less affordable, potentially worsening shortages. 

What degrees are considered unprofessional?

On July 4th, 2025, the Trump administration changed the list of degrees that are considered “professional.” This new federal list excludes nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, and social work as well as fields outside of healthcare like architecture, education, and accounting.

Is speech therapy no longer a professional degree?

To implement the student loan provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has proposed a definition of a "professional degree" program that does not include audiology or speech-language pathology.

Is MSW no longer considered a professional degree?

Under the proposed rule, MSW and DSW programs would not qualify as "professional degrees," reducing federal loan limits to $20,500 per year and a lifetime total of $100,000. This reduction may not cover the full cost of many MSW or DSW programs, forcing students to rely on private loans that are not eligible for PSLF.

What degrees is Gen Z getting?

The big reveal… what are the most popular majors we're seeing?

• Business administration & management. ...
• Engineering & computer science. ...
• Nursing. ...
• Environmental science. ...
• Sociology. ...
• Education.

What degrees did Donald Trump have in college?

Donald Trump holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, which he received in 1968 after attending Fordham University and transferring. He also attended the New York Military Academy as a teenager before starting university. 

What majors are declining?

History As a percentage of all bachelor's degrees, history has fallen to some of its lowest points since the 1980s. Foreign Languages and Literatures This field has also seen a considerable drop in the number of degrees awarded since the 1970s and 1980s.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal. 

Why is Gen Z dropping out of college?

Gen Z is ditching college degrees for skilled trades due to crippling student debt, the high cost of tuition, and a desire for quicker entry into well-paying, in-demand jobs that offer good work-life balance and less desk time, with many trade careers now offering six-figure salaries and strong job security against automation. They are seeking practical skills, immediate earning potential, and alternatives to the traditional four-year path, seeing trades as a smart, debt-free route to financial stability and fulfilling work, despite some potential risks in physically demanding roles. 

What is the hardest professional degree to get?

15 Hardest Degrees in the World

• Medicine. Why it's hard: Medicine is often considered one of the hardest degrees due to its length, complexity, and intensity. ...
• Law. ...
• Engineering. ...
• Architecture. ...
• Physics. ...
• Mathematics. ...
• Chemistry. ...
• Nursing.

Is PT no longer a professional degree?

No, physical therapy (PT) remains a professional field requiring advanced degrees (DPT), but the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) recently proposed reclassifying it from a "professional" to a "graduate" degree for loan purposes, which could lower borrowing limits and create financial hurdles, though this rule is not yet final and faces strong opposition from professional organizations like the APTA. This proposed change, part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), would affect new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, if finalized, impacting education affordability for PT and other health professions. 

What degrees are no longer professional degrees?

Recent U.S. Department of Education changes under the Trump administration have excluded several fields from the narrow definition of "professional degree" for student loan purposes, impacting loans for programs like nursing, physical therapy, social work, physician assistant, architecture, and education, while retaining medicine, law, and dentistry; this shift mainly affects loan limits, not the inherent professional status of the careers themselves. 

Why are SLPs leaving the profession?

Moreover, the perception of workload, emotional fatigue, and work-based stress led to increased turnover intentions and intention to quit speech-language pathology as a profession (Heritage et al., 2019).

What is the least respected degree?

Degrees in drama/theatre, music, fine arts, and religious studies are often recogonized as the least respected degrees due to their lower starting salaries and limited career prospects. However, the term “least respected” is quite subjective, and the real condition can vary depending on the individuals and industries.

What is the #1 most respected profession?

Over 75% of respondents in Gallup's annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll consider nurses to be the most trusted profession.

Why did the Department of Education reclassify degrees?

The Department of Education (DOE) has justified the reclassification as an effort to simplify the complex student loan system and control burgeoning student debt.

Can a nurse practitioner call themselves Dr.?

A federal judge has ruled that nurses with doctorates in California cannot call themselves “doctor” in clinical settings — even if they hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

What is a nurse without a degree called?

CNA: CNA training focuses on the basics of patient care. It takes around four to eight weeks and does not need a degree. 1. LPN: LPNs have a diploma or certificate, work under RNs, and must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses to become licensed.