Note: This article has been updated to reflect a June 29 update from the U.S. Department of Education.
Federal Judge's Stay on U.S. Department of Education Student Loan Action and Temporary Relief
On June 29, the U.S. Department of Education provided updated guidance on what they now consider to be a professional degree, per a federal court order on June 25 to temporarily halt the Department of Education's final rule from going into effect on July 1.
DPT students are temporarily considered to be a professional degree program.
An Associated Press article reported that the department continues to disagree with the judge's order and provided a quote from Undersecretary Nicholas Kent that read, "We will continue to make the case that the definition is both lawful and appropriate." The article goes on to say that this change "represents a short-term win for the groups that sued to stop the rule."
The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance also published a Coalition Update on this change by the department. APTA is a founding member of the Coalition and has a seat on the steering committee. The federal loan limit initially placed on student loans for doctor of physical therapy students by the Department of Education would likely limit access to education and negatively affect the physical therapy workforce required to meet societal needs.
This stance by the department should signal to programs that this may be only temporary relief. Approximately half, 160, of all DPT programs have start dates between July and September.
As a reminder, the judge's ruling only addresses the maximum amount of federal student loans available, i.e., $50,000 vs. $20,500, and does not change the status of the Grad PLUS loan program that sunsets today.
APTA will continue to provide updates as this situation evolves. In the interim, DPT programs are encouraged to work with their institution's legal counsel and financial aid office to determine how best to address this situation.
APTA's Position on Fair Access to Federal Student Loans
APTA is deeply concerned that the U.S. Department of Education failed to meaningfully consider thousands of public comments outlining strong policy arguments against its proposed rule and clear evidence that the doctor of physical therapy degree meets the federal definition of a professional degree in finalizing its latest rule. This rule will significantly restrict borrowing for future students pursuing a DPT degree at a time of nationwide health care workforce shortages and rising demand for physical therapist services.
The department's policy change undermines the future workforce and risks limiting patient access to care, as APTA detailed in its Nov. 24, 2025, statement when the department's Reimagining and Improving Student Education, or RISE, Negotiated Rulemaking Committee recommended the proposal.
"APTA supports meaningful reforms to lower tuition costs and make education more affordable; however, federal student loans remain essential to ensuring access to a physical therapist education," said APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD.
"The Department of Education's final rule restricting federal student loan access puts unnecessary barriers between future physical therapists and the education they need to serve their communities," he said. "APTA opposes this rule because it undermines student access to federal loans, threatens the stability of the health care workforce, and ultimately risks patient access to care."
How the Final Rule Redefines "Professional Degree" and Cuts Loan Eligibility
Under the final rule issued April 30, the department finalized an arbitrary and limited definition of "professional degree" solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for higher federal loan limits. The department finalized its approach to reserve the highest annual and lifetime loan caps of $50,000 per year and $200,000 total only for 11 degree programs it categorized as "professional" for student loan purposes: theology, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and clinical psychology.
All other programs, including DPT programs, are categorized as "graduate degrees" and subject to significantly lower caps of $20,500 per year and $100,000 total. While the department acknowledges these are solely internal classifications and not a judgment of a program's professional standing, the practical effect is clear: many DPT students will face federal borrowing limits that do not align with the real cost of education and the cost of living during full-time clinical training.
How the Final Rule Affects DPT Students and Access to Education
While APTA supports reforms to lower tuition costs and make education more affordable, federal student loans are essential to ensuring access to DPT education. By restricting federal loan availability, the final rule may push students toward higher-cost private debt or deter qualified applicants entirely. Such an outcome would disproportionately affect students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds and further destabilize the future of the physical therapy workforce.
APTA Advocacy: Comments, Coalition Action, and Ongoing Opposition
In its formal comments to the Department of Education, submitted March 2 on the department's proposed rule, APTA made clear that the doctor of physical therapy degree already met the federal definition of a professional degree and should be treated accordingly. During the proposed rulemaking period, APTA led a national, coordinated advocacy campaign to protect students, the profession, and patient access to care.
APTA strongly opposes the department's final decision and is continuing its advocacy to protect prospective students and the profession. The association will continue engaging policymakers and agency officials, working with partners as a steering committee member of the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance, and closely monitoring the rule's implementation. Litigation challenging the final rule is expected, and APTA is tracking developments as multiple entities evaluate legal options.
Concurrently, APTA supports three bipartisan legislative solutions already introduced in Congress: H.R. 6574 (Rep. Timothy Kennedy, D-N.Y.), H.R. 6677/S. 4039 (Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. / Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.), and H.R. 6718 (Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.). While these bills share a common theme of modifying borrowing caps, they differ in scope and approach. Specifically, the bills would ensure that professional degrees, such as the DPT, are classified and/or have access to the professional degree loan caps. In doing so, they would protect prospective students' ability to pursue careers in physical therapy and other essential health care professions.
What Happens Next: Take Action to Help Drive Congressional Action
APTA urges all physical therapy advocates to use the APTA Patient Action Center to tell your members of Congress to support APTA-backed legislation addressing the final rule's restrictive federal student loan caps. Member engagement is essential to protecting students' access to education, supporting a strong workforce, and ensuring patients can receive timely, high-quality care.
APTA members are also encouraged to join the APTA Advocacy Network to stay informed on the latest updates.