Clarity in Professional Degree Act

Summary

Changes the federal law definition of “professional degree” used for Title IV student aid so certain graduate and health-related credentials explicitly count as professional degrees. It adopts the Department of Education’s regulatory definition (as in effect on enactment) and expands it to include ten named degree types (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, accounting, architecture, several education and music degrees, world languages, and public health) to protect students’ access to federal aid.

• Modifies the statutory definition of "professional degree" used in Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
• Incorporates the Department of Education’s regulatory definition (as in effect on enactment) into the statute.
• Explicitly expands the definition to include ten named degree types across health, education, accounting, architecture, music, languages, and public health.
• Aims to preserve Title IV federal student aid eligibility for students in the listed programs.
• Responds to a recent Department of Education reclassification that could remove many graduate and health credentials from Title IV eligibility.
• Does not provide additional funding or change loan/grant amounts—only changes a statutory definition.
• Likely limits the Department of Education’s ability to exclude the listed programs via regulatory interpretation.
• Potentially protects students with disabilities and others who rely on federal aid to complete these professional programs.