11/25/2025

What's New at PAEA? Statement on Student Loan Access, PA Education Fact Sheet, and Advocacy Resources

PAEA is the only national organization representing accredited PA educational programs in the United States and provides services for faculty at its member programs, as well as to applicants, students, and other stakeholders. Here are a few highlights of their recent work and resources.

OBBBA Implementation Update & Grassroots Campaign

On November 6, the Department of Education’s RISE negotiated rulemaking committee proposed new restrictions on professional student loan access under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Under OBBBA, graduate students borrowing federal loans for the first time after July 1, 2026 will be restricted to $20,500 per year and $100,000 total in federal loans, while professional students will be limited to $50,000 per year and $200,000 total.

Under the Department’s proposed regulations, PA students, as well as other key professions such as advanced practice nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and others would be excluded from the “professional” category, even though they clearly meet every element of the definition established in the law.

In response to this, PAEA issued this statement and launched a Grassroots Action Network Campaign urging Congress to intervene in response to the Department of Education's proposed regulations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.