Communications

(March 3, 2026) - This week, the Kansas Hospital Association submitted comments to the United States Department of Education on the proposed rule that would define the terms “graduate student” and “professional student” for determining federal student loan amounts based on the type of program in which a student is enrolled. 

The definition of “professional student” would include a new definition of “professional degree” limited to 11 fields, including physicians, pharmacists and clinical psychologists. It would limit students pursuing professional degrees to borrow up to $50,000 in federal loans per year, with an aggregate limit of $200,000. All other programs would be defined as “graduate degrees” and subject to lower federal student loan limits of up to $20,500 per year, with an aggregate limit of $100,000. 

KHA expressed concerns that various health care professions are excluded from the definition of “professional degree,” including nursing, social work, physician assistant, and physical and occupational therapy, and encouraged a broader definition to include these and other programs. Amid ongoing workforce challenges, it is crucial to remove unnecessary deterrents and barriers for students pursuing key health care roles. The Department of Education will now review the comments submitted and consider any revisions before releasing a final rule in the coming months.