The domino effects of degree reclassification

As much as people try to deny it, labels are everything. They allow us to identify what is important to us and how to align with common interest groups. Thus, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)’s recent removal of certain degrees from the list of those classified as “professional,” such as nursing, education, and accounting, will have significant negative repercussions. Notably, the act will invalidate many female-dominated fields and create financial barriers to higher education. The ramifications of this reclassification extend to college-bound PHS students, whose chosen majors may be affected by changing loan conditions as well as a skewed perspective of a career path’s “legitimacy.”

The designation of degrees as professional determines the loan ceiling for many graduate programs. The OBBBA gives professional degrees a total limit of $200,000, while the cap is halved for degrees simply classified as graduate — $100,000. Additionally, the bill cuts the Grad PLUS student loan program, further heightening financial barriers for many individuals to access post-secondary education.

Moreover, many of the reclassified degrees are in female-dominated fields, resulting in a disproportionate impact. For example, AuDs, the degree necessary to become an audiologist or hearing doctor, are among those being reclassified. It is a rigorous four year doctoral degree in addition to a bachelor’s degree. At the end of the program, students gain clinical experience through an externship, which is a short, observational program where a student shadows an experienced individual in order to learn more about a field or industry. Women comprised 82 percent of the audiology field in 2019, and this level of educational experience is the same, if not more, than “professional” fields such as dentistry or law. Restricting financial aid for vital degrees, especially considering that audiology and nursing are facing worsening labor shortages, creates additional barriers for individuals to enter each field.

On a more narrow scale, there is no doubt that this will affect what majors high school students will choose, including students at PHS. Those who once considered pursuing graduate futures in nursing or accounting may have to reconsider due to a hindered ability to cover education costs. Students who are the first in their family to go to college will be especially hard hit—according to Ohio State University in 2022, 72% of first-generation low income students rely on federal student loans to fund higher education. Individuals will be forced to turn to private loans, which require strong credit history and are more difficult to obtain. Instead of attempting to encourage social mobility, the government is only exacerbating an existing socioeconomic education gap.

The OBBBA is not a judicious reform, but rather a careless gamble of progress. As part of the future workforce, we must advocate for the legitimacy of vital career fields. Although the OBBBA is an intimidating piece of federal legislation, there are still ways we can express our opinions about the reclassification. Contacting local government officials and working to raise community awareness about civic engagement always helps. Students can also contact universities about their financial policies to see if they will offer new school-specific loan options considering the recent degree reclassification. No matter the illusions created by a law, our dreams remain legitimate, and we must continue to fight for the everlasting principles of curiosity, integrity, and the enduring pursuit of knowledge.