AIA Opposes Proposed Department of Education Rule That Would Limit Federal Loans for Architecture Students
AIA is especially concerned about the impact on students from lower- and middle-income backgrounds, who are less likely to have access to alternative sources of financing.
WASHINGTON – January 30, 2026 – Today, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) strongly opposes a proposed Department of Education rule that would strip Masters of Architecture and Doctorates of Architecture programs of their professional designation, limiting federal loans for thousands of architecture students to just $20,500 per year.
During pre-publication meetings, AIA raised concerns with this approach in a November statement, joined by nearly 70 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of students and professionals. The now published proposed rule disregards those concerns and reflects a misreading of congressional intent by drastically and unreasonably redefining what a ‘professional’ degree is.
“Restricting ‘professional’ degrees to a predetermined list will reduce accessibility to advanced architecture diplomas for many qualified students,” said Illya Azaroff, FAIA, 2026 AIA President. “Architects—along with teachers, nurses, and dozens of other excluded fields—are undeniably professionals under any reasonable interpretation of the law enacted by Congress. This misguided rule fails to address the affordability crisis in higher-education and instead erects new barriers that prevent students from pursuing the education and professional paths best suited to their talents and aspirations.”
AIA is especially concerned about the impact on students from lower- and middle-income backgrounds, who are less likely to have access to alternative sources of financing. Without federal aid that reflects the true cost of professional education, students may be forced into private debt or leave programs before completion - weakening the architecture workforce pipeline and undermining broader public-interest goals.
“Architects design our cities and towns - they are central to the design of housing, schools, hospitals, and critical public infrastructure,” said Carole Wedge, FAIA, EVP/Chief Executive Officer of AIA. “Architects protect the health, safety, and welfare of the American public. As a nation, we must ensure access to affordable federal student financing that reflects the realities of professional education. This is essential to maintaining a strong and diverse workforce.”
Architects are professionals. Masters of Architecture and Doctorates of Architecture are professional degrees. Period.
Comments are accepted through the government’s official website through March 2. AIA will submit formal comments during the public comment period and is working with a broad coalition of education, labor, and health organizations to elevate the real-world impacts of this rule on graduate students and professional workforce pipelines.
Comments can be submitted here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2025-OPE-0944-0001
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