American College of Rheumatology, Physician Groups Weigh in on Department of Education Proposal to Redefine Professional Degrees
March 9, 2026 | Advocacy
ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recently joined with 16 other healthcare organizations to submit comments to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in response to its proposal to exclude nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, and social workers, among other crucial healthcare professionals, from the definition of “professional degree” for federal student loan purposes.
The letter expresses concern that limiting access to higher federal loan caps will shift many to seek costly private loans or even abandon healthcare career aspirations altogether. “Rather than compelling institutions to lower costs,” the letter notes that “the new federal borrowing limits will increase students’ reliance on private financing—often at higher interest and with fewer protections.”
The signatories anticipate that the proposed changes will lead to a further decline in both applications and enrollment in health training programs, thereby limiting the future supply of essential health professionals. Under the proposed definition, several health programs would lose access to the more flexible $200,000 lifetime federal loan limit and would be capped at $100,000. This cut would make enrollment in these programs untenable for many students.
“We must not undermine pipelines into the very careers that sustain our health system,” the letter concludes, urging “the Department to reconsider this policy and maintain the current definitions for all health-related professional programs as our nation’s ability to meet growing patient needs depends on a robust pipeline across disciplines.”
In addition to the American College of Rheumatology, the letter was also signed by The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, The American Academy of Neurology, The American College of Cardiology, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The American Gastroenterological Association, The Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, Heart Failure Society of America, Lupus Foundation of America, The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Sjögren’s Foundation, Inc., The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Alabama Society for the Rheumatic Diseases, Maryland Society for Rheumatic Diseases, MidWest Rheumatology Association, Tennessee Rheumatology Society, and Virginia Society of Rheumatology.
Read the full comment letter >
Media Contact
Teri Arnold
Director, Public Relations & Communications
757-272-7002
tarnold@rheumatology.org
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About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.