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02.18.26 | The Department of Education has excluded architecture degrees from ‘professional designation’ for graduate student loan purposes. This limits graduate architecture students (M.Arch and D.Arch) to $20,500 per year in federal loans.

This artificial cap forces talented students from modest-income backgrounds to rely on expensive private loans, delay their education, or abandon the profession entirely. The results — harmful to individuals who dream of being architects; firms relaying on well educated emerging professionals; and a larger society facing housing and climate issues.

Take action! AIA National supports two key pieces of legislation that would restore fair access to federal student loans for architecture students: H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act, and H.R. 6677, the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act. 

H.R. 6718 would codify architecture as a professional degree alongside other licensure-based fields, ensuring students can access the federal loan limits they need to complete their education.

H.R. 6677 would restore the loan structure that existed before recent harmful restrictions took effect. 

National has made it easy for members to contact their representatives in congress to support these Bills. In two clicks, you can affect the future of the profession and its possibilities.

Support these bills critical to the profession’s future, today!