Student Loan Access to Shift for Some Professions in 2026
Washington D.C. – Notable changes are coming to federal student loan eligibility for certain graduate and professional programs, slated to take effect in July 2026 with the implementation of the Refund Assistance Plan (RAP), a replacement for current loan programs. the alterations could limit access to loans or reduce borrowing amounts for students pursuing degrees in a range of fields.
While the government is finalizing details and the exact list of impacted careers remains subject to change until next year, preliminary indications suggest a re-evaluation of which degrees qualify for higher loan limits. A list published by the American Council on Education last August offers a glimpse of potential changes.
The Department of Education has proposed defining programs like medicine (MD), Dentistry (DDS/DMD), and Law (LLB/JD) – and other similarly expensive fields – as eligible for a maximum loan amount of $200,000. graduate and doctoral students in other programs would face a $100,000 loan limit. Importantly, undergraduate students are largely unaffected by these proposed changes.
The potential impact on healthcare professions has drawn criticism. A coalition of nursing and healthcare organizations has voiced concerns that limiting loan access could exacerbate existing workforce shortages. However, the Department of Education maintains that the revised definition of a “professional degree” is an internal distinction used solely to determine loan limit eligibility and does not reflect a judgment on the value of these professions.
officials also point out that the majority of nursing students - 95% – currently borrow less than the proposed annual limit and therefore would not be directly impacted by the new regulations.
The changes reflect an ongoing effort to refine student loan programs and manage federal lending. Further details and a finalized list of affected careers are expected next year as the RAP implementation date approaches.
