Colleges and lawmakers are publicly contesting the Education Department’s interpretation of recent loan‑cap legislation. Universities warned that a narrow regulatory reading—one that restricts which graduate programs qualify as “professional” and therefore access higher loan limits—could reduce access to critical fields and shift student debt burdens. Commenters include university presidents (Boston University’s Melissa Gilliam among them), higher‑education associations, and congressional staffers. The department’s proposal limits the professional designation to a short list of fields, prompting calls to broaden the standard to avoid making certain health‑care, education, or licensure pathways unaffordable for students. Final regs will determine whether institutions must restructure costs or students must find new financing pathways.