A federal court has temporarily stayed part of the U.S. Department of Education’s revised definition of “professional degree programs.” As a result, some Chatham graduate programs may temporarily qualify for the higher federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits based on interim federal guidance.
This is not a permanent policy change and may change as the litigation continues. Chatham is reviewing the updated guidance and will update this page as additional information becomes available.
Federal loan eligibility depends on several factors, including program CIP code, degree type, enrollment status, borrower history, and other federal requirements. Students should contact Chatham’s Office of Financial Aid to discuss their individual eligibility.
More information available here and here.
Chatham is sharing this information to help current and prospective students understand what may change, how those changes could affect future borrowing, and where to get support. These changes are based on federal legislation and ongoing rulemaking related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which made several changes to the federal loan program (effective July 1, 2026), including:
The U.S. Department of Education finalized the definition of “professional degree programs” for federal loan purposes. A federal advisory committee recommended narrowing the definition of programs to a limited set of fields, including Clinical Psychology, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, and a few other programs. This is what was affected by the temporary stay.
As currently defined, this definition would exclude many health-related master’s and doctoral programs (such as nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social work), meaning those students would be subject to the lower graduate borrowing limits.
Chatham will update this page as federal guidance is finalized or as more details become available.
Beginning July 1, 2026, the federal Graduate PLUS Loan program is eliminated for new borrowers, subject to any limited exceptions or clarifying federal guidance. For many students, this means federal borrowing may no longer cover the full cost of attendance.
New federal borrowing limits are expected to apply to new borrowers.
Students who do not receive a qualifying federal loan disbursement before July 1, 2026, are expected to be subject to new Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits:
Beginning July 1, 2026, new borrowers enrolled less than full-time may be eligible only for a prorated federal loan amount based on enrollment status. Additional federal guidance is still expected.
Depending on your program, enrollment status, and borrowing history, these federal changes may affect the amount you can borrow from the federal government and the options available to you.
Students who receive eligible federal loan disbursements before July 1, 2026, and remain in the same academic program may qualify for transition, or “legacy,” treatment under the law for a limited period. Reported summaries indicate that continuing borrowers in the same program may be able to continue borrowing under prior rules through June 30, 2029, or until program completion, whichever comes first.
Under current interim federal guidance, certain programs may temporarily be treated as professional degree programs for federal loan-limit purposes if they match the Department of Education’s listed 6-digit CIP code and degree type. These may include programs in fields such as physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, advanced nursing, and psychology.
For students in eligible programs, the federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits for professional programs may be $50,000 annually and $200,000 in aggregate during the temporary stay. However, this treatment is subject to change based on future court action, Department of Education guidance, or institutional implementation decisions.
Graduate programs that are not included in the Department’s interim professional-degree list are expected to remain subject to the graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits of $20,500 annually and $100,000 in aggregate.
Because the federal guidance is temporary and program eligibility depends on CIP code and degree type, Chatham will continue to review affected programs and update students as more information becomes available.
If your educational costs exceed the applicable annual federal borrowing limit, you may need to explore other ways to finance your education, including payment plans, employer tuition benefits, outside scholarships, or private educational loans, as appropriate. This is especially important for students who previously expected federal loans to cover the full cost of attendance. Chatham’s graduate financial aid pages direct students to funding opportunities and loans/payment options for planning purposes.
Students who attend less than full-time may see reduced federal borrowing eligibility under the new proration rules for new borrowers.
No. For this page, most Chatham graduate programs should be treated as graduate programs, while the Doctor in Counseling Psychology (PsyD) should be treated as a professional program under the current definitions. That means different federal borrowing limits may apply depending on the program.
At this time, Chatham is reviewing the Department of Education’s temporary professional-degree designations by 6-digit CIP code and degree type. Chatham’s PsyD in Counseling Psychology remains included, and additional programs may temporarily qualify under the court stay if they match the Department’s interim list. Because this guidance is temporary and subject to change, students should contact Financial Aid for program-specific guidance.
If you have questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid located at Berry Hall on the Shadyside Campus.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 412-365-2781
Fax: 412-365-1871
Email FAO@chatham.edu
