This page is for informational purposes only and is based on the current understanding of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s proposed implementation by the U.S. Department of Education. This information is subject to change pending final regulatory text.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3 or OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025, through the federal budget reconciliation process. This legislation contains significant provisions that reshape federal student financial aid nationwide.
More information is available from the following sites:
A professional student is a student enrolled in a program of study that awards a professional degree upon completion of the program. A professional degree is a degree that signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession, and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree; is generally at the doctoral level, and requires at least six academic years of postsecondary education coursework for completion, including at least two years of postbaccalaureate level coursework; generally requires professional licensure to begin practice; and includes a four digit program CIP code that are the same as the 11* spelled out (medicine, pharmacy, law, divinity, etc.) but must also lead to licensure and have at least two years of post-baccalaureate study.
*Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.), Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.), Law (L.L.B. or J.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Optometry (O.D.), Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.), Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.), and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.).
Note: Graduate-level students who do not meet this definition are considered graduate students.
