Audiology Degrees Left Off the “Professional” List: New Federal Loan Caps for the Hearing Health Workforce

In late 2025, the Trump administration introduced a new framework that redefines what the federal government considers a “professional degree.” This classification determines which graduate programs qualify for higher federal borrowing limits and which will fall under lower caps designed for general master’s-level education.

Audiology was left off the “professional” list.
That single decision could shape the future of the hearing healthcare workforce in ways the industry cannot afford to ignore.

The proposed rules are still evolving, but the early implications are clear. If borrowing limits for AuD students drop, access to the profession becomes more difficult and a workforce already stretched thin becomes even more strained. At Staffing Proxy, we follow these trends closely because they directly impact the clinics, students, and healthcare groups we support. Here is what we know today, where uncertainty remains, and why this moment matters for audiology.

The New Definition of a “Professional Degree” and Who Was Left Out

Under the proposal, degrees that meet a narrower definition of “professional” would retain higher federal loan caps. All others, even those requiring licensure or advanced clinical training, would fall under reduced borrowing limits.

Fields excluded from the protected list include nursing, public health, social work, physical therapy, physician assistant programs, occupational therapy, education, accounting, architecture, and audiology.

Seeing so many essential health and public-service professions grouped outside the professional designation is striking. Many of these fields already face workforce shortages. For audiology specifically, the exclusion affects more than status—it directly impacts how students fund the mandatory clinical doctorate required for licensure in all 50 states.

What Reduced Loan Caps Could Mean for AuD Students

Audiology programs typically exceed the standard federal borrowing limit, making Graduate PLUS loans essential for covering tuition and living expenses. If audiology is reclassified into the lower tier, many incoming students will face a difficult financial barrier: can I afford this profession at all?

The average AuD spans three to four years, often costing far more than proposed borrowing limits would allow. Lower caps could push students toward high-interest private loans or discourage them from entering the field entirely. The impact would fall most heavily on first-generation college students, lower-income students, and those without family financial support.

These concerns have been echoed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which has warned that excluding audiology and speech-language pathology from the federal definition of a professional degree would significantly limit students’ ability to enter the field. ASHA’s analysis highlights how reduced borrowing capacity could unintentionally shrink the pipeline of future clinicians. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) has expressed similar concerns and has joined national coalitions urging the administration to reconsider the proposal.

Students exploring how these changes may impact their future careers can also find support and guidance on our candidate resources page, including help navigating early career decisions and job opportunities.

A Shrinking Talent Pipeline at a Time of High Demand

Even without policy changes, the audiology workforce struggles to keep pace with national demand. Only about 700 new audiologists enter the field each year, far fewer than the number needed to support private practices, hospitals, and ENT clinics.

Reduced access to federal loans could further shrink this pipeline. Higher financial risk means fewer students may apply, which would ripple across the industry: fewer externs, fewer new graduates, longer hiring cycles, increased competition for mid-career talent, and reduced access to care—especially in rural or underserved areas.

For clinics already struggling to fill open audiology positions, these changes could compound recruiting challenges. We break down these hiring trends further in our article on the audiology workforce shortage (link to your strongest shortage-related blog).

For the clinics we work with daily, these are not abstract trends. They directly affect scheduling, patient load, and long-term practice stability.

Why Audiology Was Left Off the Professional List

The administration has not explained degree-by-degree exclusions, but policy analysts offer several theories. Some point to attempts to tie borrowing levels to projected early-career earnings. Others believe the goal is to reduce federal exposure to graduate loan debt by narrowing the list of programs that qualify for expanded borrowing.

Regardless of intent, removing audiology from the professional list is inconsistent with its status as a clinical doctorate. Licensing requirements, supervised clinical training, and the profession’s role in healthcare align with long-standing definitions of a professional degree.

This disconnect is why AAA, ASHA, ADA, academic groups, and public health organizations are pushing for the proposed rule to be reconsidered.

What Remains Unclear

Key unresolved issues include:

Whether any health professions will be reinstated before the rule is finalized
When the new borrowing limits might take effect
Whether transitional protections will be available for current students
How Graduate PLUS loan eligibility will be treated
Whether loan caps will vary by program length

Universities and professional associations continue requesting clarification. Updates are emerging frequently, and we are monitoring them closely.

What Audiology Students Can Do Right Now

Students considering an AuD program should speak with their financial aid office for the most current information. Comparing a program’s cost of attendance with both current and potential borrowing limits can offer a clearer sense of what may change.

It is also wise to explore scholarships, assistantships, and grants earlier than usual. Students should stay connected with the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA), which provides advocacy updates, student resources, and opportunities to get involved at the national and state level.

For students preparing for externships or early-career transitions, our guides on externship pathways and transitioning from student to clinician can provide additional support (link to your respective blog posts if available).

State audiology chapters, ASHA, and AAA are also sharing real-time updates and mobilizing advocacy efforts. Staying informed through these channels will help students navigate evolving policy decisions.

What Clinics and Hiring Managers Should Prepare For

If borrowing limits for AuD students drop, the effects will show up in the hiring pipeline long before graduation rates shift. Clinics may want to reassess compensation structures, student loan repayment benefits, paid externship programs, and long-term talent planning.

Practices looking to stay competitive may benefit from revisiting their recruitment and retention strategies. Our insights on improving recruitment and retention (link to your retention blog) outline practical steps clinics can take.

Clinics that need additional support finding qualified candidates can explore our employer services for help with forecasting needs, sourcing talent, and managing long-term staffing goals.

If enrollment declines, competition for early-career audiologists will intensify. Clinics that adapt early will be better positioned to attract and retain talent.

Staffing Proxy’s Position and Ongoing Monitoring

Because we work directly with clinics, students, audiology programs, and health systems, we see how quickly policy changes can shift the hiring landscape. We are monitoring this situation closely, speaking with program directors, and reviewing updates from AAA, ASHA, and federal agencies.

As more information becomes available, we will continue to share updates. Audiology is a field built on access, expertise, and patient outcomes. Ensuring students can afford to enter the profession is essential for the future of hearing healthcare. As details evolve, our focus remains the same: supporting workforce stability and the clinics and students who depend on it.