The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a sharply narrower federal definition of “professional degrees” for student-loan purposes—and architecture is currently excluded from the draft list. While this proposal does not change licensure or the status of NAAB-accredited B.Arch, M.Arch, or D.Arch programs as professional degrees within the architectural profession, it could significantly reduce how much graduate architecture students may borrow starting July 1, 2026—lowering access from the new $200,000 “professional program” cap to the $100,000 limit applied to standard graduate programs.
The AIA strongly opposes any policy that fails to recognize architects as professionals, noting that the title of “architect” is earned through rigorous education, examinations, and licensure, and warning that reduced federal borrowing could shrink the pipeline of future architects and strain firm recruitment. The proposal will enter a public-comment period in early 2026, and AIA is actively engaging federal agencies and Congress to restore architecture’s recognition, protect students’ ability to finance their degrees, and ensure federal policy aligns with the professional realities of licensure-based fields.
Members are encouraged to watch for upcoming AIA action alerts, participate in the comment process, and help raise awareness across the architectural community and beyond.