Federal Student Loan Limits Finalized, Optometry Recognized as Professional Program

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Education finalized regulations on April 30 that include updated borrowing limits on federal and student loans for both graduate and professional degrees, as well as changes to student loan forgiveness and repayment options. According to the new regulations, part of the Trump administration’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act that was signed into law in July 2025, students in professional programs are eligible for loans up to $50,000 annually with a $200,000 limit, while those graduate students in other health-related fields are restricted to $20,500 per year and a total of $100,000.