Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 12/17/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act, a bill that amends the Higher Education Act to define “professional degree” and lists the graduate programs which meet the criteria. 

The Working Families Tax Cut legislation modified the annual federal student loan caps for students in graduate programs. The law caps traditional graduate education at $20,500 per year and $100,000 overall. But for graduate students seeking professional degrees, this limit is raised to $50,000 per year and $200,000 overall. It refers to an existing regulatory definition of “professional degree” to determine which programs qualify for which cap.

To further clarify congressional intent, the Professional Student Degree Act, codifies the definition currently in regulation. It then adds to the existing list of examples to enumerate more programs that meet the standards set in the definition. In addition to programs already identified, the bill lists nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.

“Any degree that fits the specified criteria in the ‘professional degree’ definition should qualify for higher loan limits. For so many essential workers that need advanced degrees and licenses to simply do their job, it will make all the difference. The Professional Student Degree Act will ensure that students pursuing essential degrees such as nursing, social work, physical therapy, and more are able to access the full range of federal student loan benefits, just as their peers in other professional fields,” said Congressman Lawler.

“AAPA applauds Congressman Lawler for stepping up to introduce this legislation and ensure the final rule issued by ED reflects the legislative language and intent of what Congress enacted,” said AAPA President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO.  “People who are going into healthcare should be able to have access to the loans they need so they can afford to complete their professional studies and take care of patients. That is the standard we should be working toward. If we fail to protect access to healthcare education today, we will feel the consequences in every clinic and every community tomorrow.”

“The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) supports H.R.6718, also known as the “Professional Student Degree Act.” This legislation amends The Higher Education Act of 1965 by codifying the definition of “professional degree” and enumerates a broad set of programs that qualify for this distinction. By embedding the definition in statute, H.R. 6718 eliminates ambiguity and ensures consistent interpretation across administrations. This clarity of the definition is critical for institutions and students planning long-term education and financial decisions. More than half of all students in New York in professional programs study at an independent college or university. Without this safeguard, many students will find their prospects for success sharply diminished, and New York’s higher education ecosystem will suffer significant economic harm. Representing more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State who educate almost 500,000 students annually, CICU supports and urges the swift passage of H.R. 6718,” said Lola Brabham, President of The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York.

“As president and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), I write to thank you for your sponsorship of H.R. 6718 – the Professional Student Degree Act, on behalf of the nation's 520 regional public universities (RPUs). As conferrers of almost 70% of all bachelor’s and master’s degrees earned at public four-year institutions, RPUs have been apprehensively following proposed changes to the definition of professional degrees at the Department of Education’s RISE Committee negotiated rulemaking sessions. Without the relief offered by your legislation, students already facing the loss of Grad PLUS loans and the imposition of newly implemented loan limits could be forced to abandon plans to attain a professional degree or switch areas of study entirely.

This concern is especially prevalent among students seeking continued education in the health care and education fields. Originally charged by their state legislatures and communities with the education of vital nurses and teachers, RPUs continue to graduate most of the nation’s nurses, educators, social workers, and public health professionals. The contributions and societal value of these graduates to their local communities are often overlooked or forgotten by policymakers, who focus on comparing debt-to-earnings ratios or amortization schedules. For these reasons, AASCU is proud to endorse H.R. 6718 and greatly appreciates your leadership on behalf of our nation’s postsecondary institutions and students. Thank you for your advocacy and recognition of the important role professional degree attainment plays in strengthening our national economy and local communities,” said Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 

“On behalf of the 100,000+ registered nurses dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research, and administration in oncology nursing, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) thanks you for your introduction of the Professional Student Degree Act. This important legislation would codify the definition of “professional degree” and clarify which graduate programs meet the criteria. ONS thanks you for your leadership and stands ready to work with you and your staff to ensure equitable access to federal loans for nursing students,” said a representative from The Oncology Nursing Society.

Additional endorsing organizations include the Association of Public Land-grant Universities, American Institute of Architects, American Institute of Architecture Students, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, National Architectural Accrediting Board, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and National Organization of Minority Architects.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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