On March 2, 2026, APA Services submitted public comments (PDF, 205KB)opens in new window on a proposed rule from the Department of Education that will implement many of the higher education provisions passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This includes the proposed definition of professional degrees for the purposes of the new federal student loan limits established by the law. APA Services’s comments are in support of the proposed definition, which includes clinical psychology (along with other health service psychology programs and some applied psychology programs) as part of the professional degree designation. This distinction makes these programs eligible for the higher of two new federal borrowing limits for postbaccalaureate study.
This update follows over 12 months of concerted advocacy, from APA Services and psychologist advocates, both at the legislative and regulatory levels. APA advocates have worked tirelessly to ensure that students in as many psychology programs as possible retain the ability to borrow federal student loans up to the maximum level set in the new law.
As we continue to see substantial shortages of behavioral health providers, including psychologists, nationwide—each congressional district has at least one federally designated mental health professionals shortage area and recent data show that the U.S. is currently on track only to meet 55% of the need for psychologists by 2037—this, and additional federal support, will be crucial to ensuring that there are enough psychologists in the workforce to meet the behavioral health needs of communities across the country.
The Department of Education is expected to finalize the rule in the coming months.
For more information, contact Kenneth Polishchuk.