05/13/2026

U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Rule Regarding Professional Degree Programs

On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released a final rule establishing new borrowing limits for students seeking federal aid. Beginning July 1, 2026, students enrolled in a professional degree program such as chiropractic will be limited to borrowing up to $50,000/year, with an aggregate cap of $200,000.

Under the rule, the definition of professional degree is narrowed to 11 fields: Chiropractic, clinical psychology, dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, theology and veterinary medicine.

This definition excludes numerous programs of study covering a range of fields, including physical and occupational therapy, nursing, and engineering. Students in those graduate or doctoral programs will have lower borrowing limits than those in the 11 professions named above.

How Will These Caps Affect the Chiropractic Profession?

For the large majority of chiropractic college graduates, a career in the profession is only achieved through the financial support of student loans. According to the Education Data Initiative, bachelor's degree recipients in the U.S. who borrowed for their education have an average debt of approximately $36,394. On top of the undergraduate loan burden, students choosing a career in chiropractic often accumulate student loan debt higher than the aggregate limits outlined above. In fact, a descriptive analysis published in 2024 found that nearly half of respondents (44.2%) reported student loan indebtedness between $150,000 and $249,999. Another 35.7% indicated debt between $250,000 and $349,999. The mean student loan debt was $249,149, with a median of $240,000.

Reduced loan access through these finalized caps will:

• Either increase out-of-pocket costs for students or require them to take on private loans at higher interest rates, and
• Artificially reduce the supply of chiropractors

The Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) has analyzed how the caps described above will affect chiropractic education:

• The $200,000 aggregate limit may be insufficient for chiropractic education, which requires extensive clinical training. Unlike some graduate programs, chiropractic students cannot work full-time during their clinical rotations, making them more dependent on federal aid. Pushing students into the private loan market means higher interest rates and fewer protections - ultimately making their debt burden even greater when they enter practice.
• The elimination of Graduate PLUS loans, which currently allow graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, will create a significant barrier for students pursuing chiropractic education. Some students need additional funding – in the private loan market – to complete their professional training. Restricting access to federal aid will ultimately reduce the number of chiropractors available to serve our communities, as students who would otherwise become chiropractors are forced to forgo professional education altogether.
• Changes to Income-Driven Repayment plans, particularly the elimination of income protection, are concerning. Many new chiropractic graduates start their careers in underserved areas or spend years building their practices. The current IDR plans provide crucial breathing room for these healthcare providers.

Other Student Loan Changes

The final rule also implements reforms simplifying the current patchwork of repayment options, establishing a new, congressionally authorized income-driven repayment plan, and enforcing other protections for students, families, borrowers, and taxpayers. The final rule replaces all prior repayment plans with two options, which DOE says is streamlined to better support borrowers:

• Tiered Standard plan
• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).

These plans will be available to new and current borrowers beginning on July 1, 2026.

Beginning July 1, 2026, new borrowers will be required to repay their loans under either the Tiered Standard plan or RAP. All existing income-contingent repayment plans will sunset on July 1, 2028.

 Tiered Standard Plan

Moving forward, the Tiered Standard plan will be the only fixed repayment option available to borrowers who receive a Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026. It provides fixed monthly payments over a period ranging from 10 to 25 years, based on the borrower’s outstanding principal balance:

• 10 years for less than $25,000
• 15 years for $25,000-$49,999
• 20 years for $50,000-$99,999
• 25 years for $100,000 or more

This structure gives borrowers with higher loan balances more time to repay. In addition, monthly payments are set at a minimum of $50, helping borrowers make progress toward reducing their balance.

For more on the Tiered Repayment Plan, click here and click on “Tiered Standard Plan” under Important Definitions.

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

RAP is a new income-based repayment option that replaces prior income-driven repayment plans. According to DOE, it is designed to benefit borrowers by allowing their payments to adjust based on income and family size, meaning borrowers pay more during years when their income is higher and less during years that their income is lower. Distinctions between RAP and prior plans include:

• Under RAP, some borrowers will see reduced monthly payments compared to existing income-driven repayment plans.
• RAP waives unpaid interest for borrowers who make on-time payments that do not fully cover accruing interest.
• Balances under RAP will decline with each on-time payment, as unpaid interest is fully waived and the Department then reduces the principal by an amount equal to the borrower’s payment, up to $50.
• Monthly payments under RAP are set at a minimum of $10.

For more on the Repayment Assistance Plan, click here and click on “Repayment Assistance Plan” under Important Definitions.

 

Sources:

U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Implements Student Loan Provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, April 30, 2026

U.S. Department of Education Press Release, “U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Landmark Rule to Lower College Costs and Simplify Student Loan Repayment,” April 30, 2026

Schut, SM, et. Al, “Student Loan Debt and Income among Chiropractors: A Description of Consultancy Data,” J Chiropr Edec. 2024 Oct 23:38(2): 137-141.

Schut SM, Cupler ZA, Coleman BC, “A Survey of Student Loan Burden Among United States Chiropractors: Insights on Debt, Relief, and Educational Value,” PLoS One 21(4): e0347127. Published April 13, 2026