The Department of Education has adopted a few measures from President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
The most recent change is to reclassify some degrees as no longer professional, which will affect the amount of compensation students can receive under student loans.
This, however, only affects graduate degrees; at College of the Canyons, associate degrees are offered.
The school is still pushing students to chase a graduate degree elsewhere after graduating from COC.
According to Newsweek, the loan caps are set at just over $20,000 for graduate students and $50,000 for professionals.
A $30,000 difference between the two. One major affected is nursing, which has sparked controversy and confusion within the community.
“Nursing is a longstanding profession that’s governed by the business and professional codes in California and is defined as a profession. And I wondered why this decision was made,” said Vicki White, Chief Nursing Officer for Henry Mayo Hospital.
It is also believed that this new degree classification has a deeper intent to target specific people.
“Of the professions that have been deemed not to be professions anymore, they are professions that are dominated by women,” said White.
“It adds another layer of curiosity around why choose these professions.”
Another effect in major is sociology. Students aspiring to be social workers may feel some worry that they can no longer receive the compensation they once thought they would.
“I was always going into this less for the money and more for what I think I would get out of it. But this has just made me feel more worried about that,” said Lucas Rosales, a COC sociology major.
“I’m worried about how my career is gonna impact my future.”
Among these degrees, now labeled as graduate degrees rather than professional degrees, are architects, educators, accountants, physical therapists, and others.
Until the act takes effect in July 2026, we will not know for sure.
