Trump Administration Redefines Professional Degrees, Excludes Key Fields
November 24, 2025666 VistasTiempo de lectura: 2 minutos
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A recent warning from Newsweek highlights the significant repercussions of a decision by President Donald Trump's administration to redefine what constitutes a "professional college degree." This change excludes critical fields that are essential to American society, such as nursing, education, engineering, and social work.
According to the report, the new definition of professional degrees will directly impact the amount of financial aid available to students. It allows those in classified "professional" specialties to receive up to $50,000 in funding, while those in excluded fields will only qualify for $20,500. Additionally, the decision eliminates the Grad PLUS program for graduate students and reduces the Parent PLUS program, which helps finance children's college education.
This decision has sparked significant debate within academic and labor circles, with education experts warning that it could deter students from entering fields already facing severe personnel shortages, particularly in healthcare, education, and physical therapy. They cautioned that reduced funding might compel universities to cut programs or raise tuition costs, especially as college tuition rates have doubled over the past three decades.
Newsweek notes that the list of excluded specialties includes areas critical to public services, such as nursing, psychological therapy, accounting, and speech disorders. In contrast, theology has been categorized as a professional degree, raising questions about potential political motivations behind the new classification.
Former Senate candidate Amy McGrath stated that the exclusion of "female-dominated" specialties is not coincidental, warning that this decision could exacerbate shortages in sensitive sectors like healthcare and education.
Newsweek concludes that these modifications could radically reshape the professional education system in the United States and threaten to weaken sectors vital to the country's social and economic framework.
