Accountancy could be losing its professional degree status in the US under President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA).
The US Department of Education is reclassifying degrees as professional and non-professional, and there will be a narrower definition for professional degrees.
Those still deemed to be professional (and there are 11 categories) include medicine, law and pharmacy. However, accountancy, architecture, nursing, and occupational therapy will be among those excluded.
Those undertaking ‘professional’ degrees qualify for higher loan limits, with the changes taking effect from 1 July 2026. The worry is that losing professional status will create more barriers for low-income, first-generation, and mid-career students.
It has also been suggested that the changes disproportionately effect women, with many degrees losing their professional status dominated by women.
