Public Comment Period on "professional" graduate degrees--deadline March 2

[Maia Feinman-Welcher]

Are you a master's level or higher public health, health education or related disciplines graduate? Did you take out federal student loans to help pay for your education? This option will much more limited starting in summer 2026--unless we act now.

 

The Open Comment Period on the proposed (incorrect!) definition of "professional degrees"--which EXCLUDES public health, nursing, social work, physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant studies and many other health professions from "professional" status, limiting student loans to only $20,500 per year-- is open RIGHT NOW. The window to submit comments slams shut on March 2, 2026.

Make your voice heard!

Here is the link where you can review the regulations and click “submit a public comment”: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/30/2026-01912/reimagining-and-improving-student-education

Consider writing something in your own voice:
* If you took out federal student loans to finance your graduate public health or other health professions degree, how did these loans help you achieve your career goal? Would you have been unable to get your MPH or other graduate degree without federal student aid?
* How has your training with a graduate public health degree benefited members of your community? Describe your community and its health needs--can you give concrete examples of a time when having your public health graduate degree improved the health of your community?

You can also copy-paste a prior sign-on letter, available here: https://lnkd.in/ehAWUQVm