Current Status: Temporary Relief While Litigation Continues
The department has made clear that restoring these programs is an interim administrative action required by the court’s order and that it intends to appeal the ruling. The professional degree designations remain in effect only for the duration of the court’s stay (which is undefined) and could change depending on the outcome of the litigation.
For audiology, the decision provides important temporary relief from a policy that would have classified AuD programs as standard graduate education rather than professional education. The American Academy of Audiology has consistently expressed our concern with the Department of Education and with congressional leaders that limiting access to federal student aid would create additional financial barriers for students entering the profession at a time when demand for hearing healthcare services continues to grow.
The Academy will continue to monitor the litigation and advocate for permanent recognition of audiology as a professional degree program to ensure students maintain access to the federal financial aid needed to complete their education.
In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Advisory Committee reached consensus on proposed regulations regarding the higher education provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Among the most consequential changes revised the definition of “professional degree program”— dramatically limits federal borrowing for student audiologists beginning as early as July 2026.
Under the rule, only students enrolled in one of 11 specifically designated professional degree programs retain access to the higher federal loan limits traditionally available to health professions. These students could borrow up to $50,000 per year for four years, for a total of $200,000.
All other graduate students—including student audiologists—are limited to $20,500 per year, with a maximum lifetime cap of $100,000. For a clinical doctoral program that requires extensive coursework and supervised clinical experiences, this represents a significant financial barrier and a substantial departure from long-standing federal policy.
Audiology still clearly meets the Higher Education Act’s definition of a professional field since graduates earn a doctoral degree and provide direct clinical care, but the discipline was not included among the 11 named professions.
The Department opened a public comment period, which closed on March 2, 2026. During this time, the Academy submitted its own comments opposing the removal of audiology students.(opens in new tab)
Additionally, the Academy worked with a coalition to submit a letter to the Department of Education urging the inclusion of all affected clinical professions—those that meet the statutory definition of a professional field but were left off the draft list. By signing on, the Academy ensured that audiology and similarly affected professions were represented collectively and with a unified voice during these early, critical stages of rulemaking.
On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education finalized the student loan rule. Effective July 1, 2026, the rule eliminated Grad PLUS loans, caps borrowing, and limited the definition of “professional” degrees to exclude audiology.
Additional hopes
After the passing of the final rule, a federal court blocked a key provision of the U.S. Department of Education’s new student loan regulations, prompting the department to include Doctor of Audiology (AuD) programs on the list of professional degree programs eligible for higher federal borrowing limits.
On June 25, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department from implementing its revised definition of a “professional degree.”
Judge Howell found that Congress, through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), incorporated a longstanding federal regulatory definition of “professional degree” into statute. Because that definition had historically been broader and non-exhaustive, the court concluded that the department likely exceeded its authority by adopting a more restrictive definition through regulation. As a result, the department must continue using the prior definition while the litigation proceeds.
In response to the court’s order, the Department of Education issued updated implementation guidance confirming that Doctor of Audiology (AuD) programs will once again be treated as professional degree programs for purposes of federal student aid during the court’s stay.
The department also restored professional degree status for several other healthcare programs. As a result, eligible AuD students may continue to qualify for the higher federal borrowing limits available to professional degree students while the litigation remains pending.
While the court blocked the department’s narrowed definition of professional degrees, it did not stop the broader student loan changes enacted by Congress.
Beginning July 1, 2026:
- Graduate students remain subject to a $20,500 annual borrowing limit and a $100,000 aggregate limit.
- Students enrolled in programs classified as professional degree programs may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 in aggregate.
The injunction affects only which academic programs qualify for the higher professional student borrowing limits—not the borrowing caps themselves.
In addition, the department emphasized that most provisions of the RISE Final Rule remain in effect, including:
- Elimination of the Grad PLUS Loan Program;
- Implementation of the new annual and aggregate federal loan limits; and
- Creation of the new Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard Repayment Plan.
