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) proposal. These FAQs outline the proposal, its impact on student aid, and key advocacy timelines.
The Department of Education’s proposed OBBBA definition of “professional degrees” excludes public health degrees like the MPH and DrPH, threatening access to federal loans and weakening the public health workforce.
The US Department of Education’s (ED) Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee advanced a proposed definition of “professional degree programs” under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that excludes public health degrees, including the MPH and DrPH, along with several other health professions programs. This change could restrict access to federal loan support and weaken the pipeline of practitioners our communities rely on.
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 recently 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.
Public Comment Letter
We have submitted and supported the following letter:
- ASPPH’s September comment letter outlining concerns about the initial implementation proposal.
Substantive Policy Recommendations
Our coalitions are urging ED to:
- Classify all programs under Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code 51, Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, as professional degrees.
- Define “professional degree” based on credentials required for entry into practice and alignment with accreditation standards, rather than credit hours or program length.
Ongoing Federal 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.
Preparing for the Next Rulemaking Stage
The Department of Education is expected to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), in January, triggering a 30-day public comment period. ASPPH will again submit formal comments and will share templates and guidance to support our members’ submissions.