The U.S. Department of Education finalized rules tightening federal student lending for graduate study, including a narrowed definition of what qualifies as a “professional student.” Under the regulation, the department will limit annual graduate borrowing for most fields to $20,500, while only 11 enumerated professional areas can borrow up to $50,000 annually. The final package also requires major system changes mandated by the prior tax and spending law, including the sunsetting of Grad PLUS loans and other adjustments to repayment options that largely take effect July 1. Groups such as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and multiple professional associations criticized the exclusion of fields such as nursing and education. Advocates warned that the caps could increase financial barriers in graduate programs tied to workforce shortages, while the Education Department said it is constrained by an existing regulatory definition and the terms of the statute.