The Department of Education’s work to define which programs qualify as “professional degrees” for higher federal graduate-loan limits has put education programs — including many K–12 teacher preparation and doctoral tracks — at risk of lower loan ceilings. The agency’s negotiated proposal would exclude some education degrees from the higher loan tier established in the One Big, Beautiful Bill, potentially capping many education students at lower lifetime federal loan limits beginning in July 2026. Financial-aid administrators also raised alarms this week after the Education Department delayed its annual Federal Student Aid training conference, adding to field confusion ahead of major regulatory changes. The combined developments are prompting program leaders to re-evaluate recruitment and funding strategies. Key actors: U.S. Department of Education, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, graduate education programs.