California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general and the Governors of Kansas and Kentucky in opposing a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education that would change the definition of a “professional degree” under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The proposal would exclude students seeking graduate degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and other health professions from eligibility for higher student loan borrowing limits.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “Advanced practice nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals with graduate-level training are vital to keeping our healthcare system running and our citizens healthy — especially in rural and underserved areas. The Trump Administration is attempting to exclude students from accessing loans in order to obtain the professional degrees necessary to do this critical work. This is not only arbitrary and illegal, but also threatens to drastically reduce the ability of patients to access adequate medical care. Across the nation, healthcare systems are drowning, often lacking sufficient numbers of physicians to meet the needs of their communities. Nurses, physician assistants, and other health professionals have helped fill this gap and provide the medical care that their patients need. I urge the Trump Administration to reverse course — this proposed rule will only exacerbate the ongoing healthcare accessibility crisis.”
The letter argues that changing which programs qualify as “professional degrees” would make it more difficult for students pursuing advanced healthcare training to borrow enough money for their education. Before recent legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was enacted in July 2025, students could borrow up to the full cost of attendance regardless of program type. Now there are separate borrowing caps: $20,500 annually (and $100,000 total) for graduate students versus $50,000 annually (and $200,000 total) for professional students.
Healthcare professionals with advanced training play important roles throughout the U.S., including providing care in rural or underserved communities where doctors may be scarce or less likely to work due to lower pay or specialty requirements.
The coalition contends that if adopted, the new rule would discourage potential healthcare workers from entering these fields by making education less accessible or more expensive. It could also worsen shortages among teaching staff at universities who train future providers.
In its letter opposing the Department’s proposal, the coalition says:
– The rule is unlawful because it goes against Congress’s clear statutory language about what counts as a “professional degree.”
– It is arbitrary because it does not address current workforce needs or explain why an outdated definition is being used instead of Congress’s broader intent.
– It would harm states by reducing residents’ access to medical care—especially those living in rural or underserved areas.
Attorney General Bonta leads California’s chief law enforcement office (official website), which serves as an integral part of state government according to California’s constitution (official website). The office promotes transparency through tools like OpenJustice (official website) and works statewide on civil rights policies (official website), consumer protection initiatives (official website), environmental justice efforts (official website), public safety issues (official website), and law enforcement matters across California (official website).
Other signatories include attorneys general from Maryland, Nevada, Colorado, New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina,Oregon,Rhode Island,Vermont ,Virginia ,Washington,Wisconsin ,and governors from Kansas and Kentucky.
