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Public Health Is a Professional Degree

ASPPH is leading national advocacy to ensure that public health degrees remain recognized and supported as professional under the Department of Education’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). These FAQs outline the proposal, its impact on student aid, and key advocacy timelines.

The Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) final rule excludes public health degrees like the MPH and DPH from the definition of “professional degrees.” This change will limit access to federal loans and weaken the public health workforce.

The Department of Education’s (ED) Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) final rule’s definition of “professional degree programs” excludes public health degrees, including the MPH and DrPH, along with several other health professions programs. This change would restrict access to federal loan support and diminish the pipeline of public health practitioners our communities rely on.

In late June, a federal district court temporarily blocked implementation of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) RISE rule, which would exclude MPH and DrPH degrees from the definition of “professional degree” programs and reduce federal student loan eligibility for many public health students. ASPPH joined a coalition supporting the legal challenge, arguing that the rule exceeds ED’s authority and creates unnecessary barriers to graduate public health education.

Following the court’s order, ED issued an updated list of programs it considers eligible for the higher federal student loan limit. While the list adds some new professions, it does not include public health degrees. As a result, MPH and DrPH students remain subject to the lower annual federal loan limit of $20,500, compared with $50,000 for students in recognized professional degree programs during the court’s stay.

At a time of growing threats to public health, failing to recognize these degrees as professional credentials is both short-sighted and dangerous.

Why This Matters

Excluding public health degrees from the “professional degree” category would:

Limit access to federal financial aid and higher loan limits for public health students.

Increase financial barriers for students from diverse and historically excluded communities.

Reduce program accessibility and enrollment, especially at institutions serving rural and underserved regions.

Weaken the public health workforce pipeline, undermining the nation’s ability to prepare professionals who protect and promote community health.

These impacts run counter to decades of precedent recognizing public health degrees as professional credentials essential to health protection and health equity.

ASPPH’s Advocacy and Coalition Work

ASPPH is coordinating a robust response in partnership with health professions, education programs, and professional associations. Our efforts include:

Coalition Leadership

ASPPH co-led efforts to launch the new Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) and is currently a member of APWA’s steering committee. ASPPH co-led a broad coalition letter to the Department of Education’s RISE Committee ahead of its second negotiated rulemaking session on the “professional degree” definition. We also joined a FASHP coalition letter on OBBBA implementation and FASHP’s March letter in response to the RISE proposed rule.

Public Comment Letters

We have submitted and supported the following letters:

  • ASPPH’s September comment letter outlining concerns about the initial implementation proposal.
  • ASPPH’s February public comment letter outlining concerns about ED’s proposed rule.

Substantive Policy Recommendations

Our coalitions are urging ED to:

  • Overturn the RISE definition of “professional degree” and instead enforce sound policies that reflect the full range of professions requiring advanced education and training.
  • Define “professional degree” based on credentials required for entry into practice and alignment with accreditation standards, rather than credit hours or program length.

Ongoing Congressional Engagement

ASPPH is in regular communication with key congressional committees of jurisdiction to highlight the implications of the proposal for public health education and workforce readiness.

Litigation Efforts

On May 21, 2026, ASPPH joined a lawsuit with sister organizations opposing ED’s finalized rule. ASPPH has also released an accompanying statement outlining concerns about the rule’s potential impact on students, institutions, and the future public health workforce.

In late June, a federal district court temporarily blocked implementation of ED’s RISE rule. Although ED has issued an updated list of programs eligible for the higher federal student loan limit, MPH and DrPH degrees remain excluded.
As a result, public health students continue to face the lower annual federal loan limit of $20,500, compared with $50,000 for recognized professional degree programs.