Department of Education Profesional Degrees List Explained

The Department of Education professional degrees list identifies graduate programs that qualify for higher federal student loan limits. It is not a list of degrees offered or awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges and universities award the degrees, while the Department uses program classifications to administer federal financial aid.

As of the Department’s July 10, 2026 update, 29 CIP-coded programs are temporarily being treated as professional degree programs. This expanded list followed a federal court order that paused part of the narrower definition contained in the RISE Final Rule.

The current designation affects how much eligible students may borrow through the federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Because litigation is continuing, some program classifications may change again.

What Is a Professional Degree?

A professional degree is an advanced qualification designed to prepare a student to begin working in a particular profession. These programs often include specialized academic instruction, supervised practice, clinical training, licensing preparation or professional examinations.

Common characteristics include:

• Study beyond the bachelor’s degree level
• Preparation for entry into a specific profession
• Advanced technical or clinical training
• Professional accreditation requirements
• State or national licensing requirements
• A defined occupational pathway
• Skills beyond those normally expected from a bachelor’s degree

However, a program is not automatically included in the federal professional degree list simply because it is demanding, career-focused or connected to a licensed occupation.

For federal student loan purposes, the program’s official Classification of Instructional Programs code, credential and Department of Education designation are especially important.

Current Department of Education Professional Degrees List

The Department’s current interim list contains 29 six-digit CIP-coded programs. A student must be enrolled in the specified program and earn the credential shown in the list to receive the professional-student designation.

CIP code	Professional degree program	Qualifying credential
01.8001	Veterinary Medicine	D.V.M.
22.0101	Law	L.L.B. or J.D.
39.0602	Divinity/Ministry	M.Div.
39.0605	Rabbinical Studies	M.H.L.
42.2801	Clinical Psychology	Ph.D. or Psy.D.
42.2803	Counseling Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2805	School Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2807	Clinical Child Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2810	Health/Medical Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2811	Family Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2812	Forensic Psychology	Psy.D.
42.2899	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other	Psy.D.
51.0101	Chiropractic	D.C. or D.C.M.
51.0202	Audiology/Audiologist	Au.D.
51.0203	Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist	SLP
51.0401	Dentistry	D.D.S. or D.M.D.
51.0809	Anesthesiologist Assistant	CAA
51.0912	Physician Associate/Assistant	MSPA or PA
51.0913	Athletic Training/Trainer	MSAT or MAT
51.1201	Medicine	M.D.
51.1202	Osteopathic Medicine	D.O.
51.1203	Podiatry	D.P.M., D.P. or Pod.D.
51.1701	Optometry	O.D.
51.2001	Pharmacy	Pharm.D.
51.2306	Occupational Therapy/Therapist	OT, MSOT or OTD
51.2308	Physical Therapy/Therapist	PT or DPT
51.3801	Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	MSN
51.3804	Nurse Anesthetist	DNAP
51.3818	Nursing Practice	DNP

For MSN and DNP programs, the Department clarified that programs within the same four-digit CIP group may qualify when they award the same specified credential. The institution must assign the applicable CIP code, or the Secretary must determine it.

Why Did the Professional Degree List Change?

The Department originally finalized a narrower definition that recognized 11 professional fields. These included medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, theology and clinical psychology.

The narrower definition was scheduled to operate alongside new graduate student loan rules beginning July 1, 2026. Several healthcare and education organizations challenged the rule, arguing that it incorrectly excluded modern licensure-based programs.

On June 24, 2026, a federal court temporarily stayed part of the Department’s definition. The Department subsequently issued an expanded interim list containing 29 program classifications.

Programs added or restored through the interim treatment include:

• Advanced nursing
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physician assistant studies
• Audiology
• Speech-language pathology
• Athletic training
• Anesthesiologist assistant programs
• Additional clinical and applied psychology programs

The Department has stated that it will continue defending its original definition. Therefore, the expanded list should be treated as the current administrative position, not necessarily a permanent final classification.

Professional Degree vs Graduate Degree

The terms professional degree and graduate degree are now important federal loan classifications. They do not determine whether a career is respectable, skilled or professional in everyday use.

Feature	Professional student	Other graduate student
Annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit	$50,000	$20,500
Aggregate graduate-level limit	$200,000	$100,000
Program must appear in qualifying classification	Yes	No
Exact credential requirement	Yes	Based on ordinary graduate eligibility
Grad PLUS available to new borrowers	No	No
Program-level limits may be set by institutions	Yes	Yes

Undergraduate borrowing limits remain separate. The graduate and professional aggregate limits apply in addition to amounts borrowed for undergraduate education, subject to the detailed federal rules governing prior graduate and professional borrowing.

How the New Loan Limits Affect Students

The difference between the two classifications can be substantial.

A student in a qualifying professional program may borrow up to $50,000 per academic year, subject to the cost of attendance and other financial aid. A student in another graduate program is generally limited to $20,500 per academic year.

The professional designation can provide access to:

• An additional $29,500 in possible annual federal borrowing
• A graduate-level aggregate limit that is $100,000 higher
• Greater federal financing capacity for costly clinical programs
• Less immediate dependence on private student loans

The higher limit does not guarantee that every professional student will receive $50,000. The amount may be reduced by the institution, the program’s cost of attendance, part-time enrollment, existing borrowing or other financial aid.

What Happened to Grad PLUS Loans?

The Grad PLUS program previously allowed eligible graduate and professional students to borrow up to their cost of attendance after other financial assistance.

Beginning July 1, 2026, new graduate and professional students generally cannot receive new Grad PLUS loans. Instead, they are subject to the annual and aggregate Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits assigned to their program classification.

This makes the Department of Education professional degrees list especially important. Students in qualifying programs receive the higher professional loan limits, while students in other graduate programs receive the lower graduate limits.

Exception for Certain Continuing Students

Some students enrolled before July 1, 2026 may qualify for a transitional exception.

Generally, a student must have:

• Been enrolled in the same program at the institution as of June 30, 2026
• Received a Direct Loan for that program before July 1, 2026
• Remained enrolled without changing to a new program or institution
• Stayed within the permitted expected time to credential

The protected period is generally the shorter of three academic years or the remaining official length of the program. Students should ask their financial aid office to confirm whether this exception applies to their specific enrollment and loan history.

Is Nursing on the Professional Degrees List?

Yes. Under the current interim guidance, several graduate nursing programs are treated as professional degrees:

• Master of Science in Nursing
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

The program must use the applicable CIP classification and award the required credential. A general nursing degree or nursing-related program does not automatically qualify.

For example, the current list does not broadly include every nursing doctorate, certificate or research program. A nursing Ph.D. should not be assumed eligible merely because the field is nursing.

Are Education Degrees Considered Professional Degrees?

Graduate education degrees generally do not appear on the current professional degree list.

Programs that are not currently included as professional programs for these federal loan limits include:

• Master of Education
• Doctor of Education
• Education Specialist
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Science in Education
• General teacher-preparation master’s degrees
• Educational leadership degrees
• Curriculum and instruction programs
• Special education graduate degrees

School psychology can qualify when the program is classified under CIP code 42.2805 and awards a Psy.D. An Ed.S., M.Ed. or another credential in school psychology should not automatically be treated as qualifying.

Being excluded from the professional degree classification does not mean educators are not professionals. The designation is used for federal loan-limit administration, not to evaluate the importance or professional standing of teachers.

Common Graduate Degrees Not on the Current List

Many advanced, career-focused and licensure-related degrees remain outside the current Department of Education professional degree classification.

Business and Accounting

The list generally does not include:

• Master of Business Administration
• Doctor of Business Administration
• Master of Accounting
• Master of Science in Accounting
• Finance graduate degrees
• Executive MBA programs

Although accounting may lead to CPA licensure, a particular graduate degree is not universally required to enter the profession.

Engineering and Architecture

The following programs are generally excluded:

• Master of Engineering
• Master of Science in Engineering
• Engineering Ph.D.
• Master of Architecture
• Landscape architecture degrees
• Civil or structural engineering graduate programs

A field may involve licensure and public responsibility without receiving the professional-student classification used for federal loan limits.

Public Health and Social Work

Programs generally not included include:

• Master of Public Health
• Doctor of Public Health
• Master of Social Work
• Doctor of Social Work
• Health administration degrees
• General healthcare management programs

Counseling and Behavioral Health

The list includes certain Psy.D. programs, but it does not broadly cover every psychology, counseling or behavioral health credential.

Common exclusions include:

• Clinical mental health counseling
• Marriage and family therapy
• Community psychology
• Industrial and organizational psychology
• Educational psychology
• Applied behavior analysis
• Sport psychology
• General applied psychology programs

Counseling psychology may qualify when it awards a Psy.D. under the specified CIP code. A Ph.D., master’s degree or differently coded program may not receive the same classification.

Pharmaceutical Science Programs

The Pharm.D. is included, but many pharmacy-related academic or research degrees are not.

Examples include:

• Pharmaceutics and drug design
• Pharmaceutical chemistry
• Pharmaceutical sciences
• Pharmacy administration
• Pharmaceutical economics
• Pharmaceutical marketing
• Clinical and industrial drug development

The professional classification applies to the qualifying Pharm.D. pathway, not every program containing the word pharmacy or pharmaceutical.

Theology and Ministry Degrees

The treatment of theological programs requires careful attention to the degree title and CIP code.

Currently included:

• Master of Divinity under CIP code 39.0602
• Master of Hebrew Letters in Rabbinical Studies under CIP code 39.0605

Generally not included:

• Theology or Theological Studies
• Pre-Theology or Pre-Ministerial Studies
• Other theological and ministerial studies programs
• Theology degrees that do not award the required M.Div. or M.H.L. credential

This is another example of why students should not rely only on the name of their academic field.

What Is a CIP Code?

A Classification of Instructional Programs code is a standardized number used to identify a college or university program’s field of study.

A six-digit CIP code provides a more precise program classification than a general subject name. Two programs with similar titles may use different CIP codes because their curriculum, academic purpose or professional pathway differs.

The Department’s current list requires both:

• A qualifying six-digit CIP code
• The specified degree or credential

A program title alone is not enough. For example, a school psychology program awarding a Psy.D. may qualify, while one awarding an Ed.S. under a different classification may not.

How to Confirm Whether a Degree Qualifies

Students should verify their status before making borrowing or enrollment decisions.

Ask for the Exact CIP Code

Contact the registrar, program office or financial aid department and request the six-digit CIP code assigned to the program.

Confirm the Credential

Check whether the program awards the exact credential listed in the Department’s guidance. Being in the correct field with a different degree may not be sufficient.

Contact the Financial Aid Office

The institution’s financial aid administrators report the student’s academic level and loan information through the federal Common Origination and Disbursement System.

Ask whether the program is being reported as:

• Graduate
• Professional never graduate
• Professional was graduate
• Professional concurrent enrollment

Review Existing Loan History

Previous graduate or professional borrowing can affect how much remains available under the aggregate limit. Financial aid administrators can review federal loan records and determine remaining eligibility.

Check for Program-Level Limits

Institutions may establish federal student loan limits below the maximum amount permitted by law. Qualifying as a professional student does not guarantee access to the entire federal maximum.

Verify the Current Legal Status

The list issued after the court order is temporary. Students entering expensive, multi-year programs should verify that the classification remains in effect before each academic year.

Why the Professional Degree Classification Matters

The classification can affect how students finance some of the country’s most expensive graduate programs.

Potential consequences include:

• Larger gaps between tuition and federal aid
• Greater reliance on scholarships or institutional assistance
• Increased use of private student loans
• More pressure to compare program costs
• Enrollment changes in high-cost graduate programs
• Financial challenges for students without strong credit
• Greater importance of employer tuition assistance
• More careful evaluation of expected earnings and debt

Private loans do not always provide the same repayment protections, income-based options or forgiveness opportunities as federal loans. Students should compare financing terms carefully before replacing federal aid with private borrowing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Department of Education professional degrees list?

It is a federal classification of graduate programs that qualify for higher Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits. The Department does not award the degrees itself.

How many programs are on the current professional degree list?

The current interim guidance identifies 29 six-digit CIP-coded professional degree programs.

Why is the current list temporary?

A federal court stayed part of the Department’s narrower definition. The expanded list is being used while litigation continues and may change after future court decisions or agency action.

What is the federal loan limit for professional students?

Professional students may generally borrow up to $50,000 annually, with a $200,000 graduate-level aggregate limit.

What is the loan limit for other graduate students?

Other graduate students may generally borrow up to $20,500 annually, with a $100,000 graduate-level aggregate limit.

Is an MBA considered a professional degree?

No. MBA, executive MBA and most graduate business programs are not included in the current federal professional degree list.

Is nursing considered a professional degree?

Certain advanced nursing programs are currently included, particularly qualifying MSN, DNAP and DNP programs with the applicable CIP codes.

Is a Master of Education a professional degree?

An M.Ed. may be called a professional degree in ordinary academic language, but it is not currently classified as a professional degree for the higher federal loan limits.

Is physical therapy on the list?

Yes. Qualifying physical therapy programs under CIP code 51.2308 that award a PT or DPT credential appear on the current interim list.

Is social work included?

No. Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work programs are not currently included in the federal professional-student classification.

Does the program name determine eligibility?

No. Eligibility depends on the program’s CIP code, the credential awarded, the institution’s federal reporting and the rules in effect for the relevant enrollment period.

Can a school offer less than the federal maximum?

Yes. Institutions may establish lower program-level loan limits. The cost of attendance, enrollment status and other aid can also reduce a student’s available amount.

Conclusion

The Department of Education professional degrees list currently includes 29 program classifications covering medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, advanced nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and several other licensed fields.

Its purpose is to determine eligibility for higher federal student loan limits, not to decide which careers deserve to be called professional. A student’s exact CIP code and credential matter more than the general name of the field.

Because the expanded list resulted from a temporary court order, students should not rely on an outdated article or assume that a familiar professional program automatically qualifies. Verification through the institution’s financial aid office remains the safest way to confirm current federal loan eligibility.