Federal Student Loan Changes: What To Know

Recent federal activity around student loan programs has raised important questions for the athletic training profession. During a Dec. 18 town hall, NATA leaders and partners outlined what is known, what is still evolving and how athletic trainers and educators can engage as new federal parameters take shape.

The discussion, led by NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT, and Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education President Toni Torres-McGehee, PhD, SCAT, ATC, focused on proposed changes being considered by the U.S. Department of Education’s RISE Committee. The committee is finalizing rules related to graduate and professional student loan caps that could affect athletic training education, student loan access and the future pipeline of the profession.

What’s Happening at the Federal Level

NATA Director of Government Affairs Deanna Kuykendall explained that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires the U.S. Department of Education to update loan regulations through a negotiated rulemaking process. To do this, the department convened the RISE Committee, which is reviewing how “professional programs” are defined for purposes of higher loan limits. That definition, dating back to the Higher Education Act of 1965, includes a narrow set of health professions such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. Athletic training, despite its evolution, isn’t currently included.

As a result, changes to federal loan programs could affect the amount of funding available to athletic training students depending on how final rules are written. Proposed rules will be published for public comment before final regulations are issued, with implementation expected by July 1, 2026.

Roles and Responsibilities

NATA is actively engaging with Congress, federal agencies and partner organizations to advocate for athletic training, ensuring policymakers understand the educational requirements and workforce needs of the profession. CAATE, as the accrediting body for professional athletic training education, doesn’t engage in lobbying but continues to monitor developments and support accredited programs.

What Athletic Trainers Can Do Now

While final rules haven’t yet been published, athletic trainers, educators and students can take steps to stay engaged:

• Be ready to contact Congress once the proposed rule is released using NATA-provided resources
• Stay informed about updates to Stafford, PLUS and other federal loan programs
• Share personal experiences about education costs and access to care when communicating with policymakers
• Follow MyNATABeat on X for advocacy updates from NATA

Looking Ahead

This issue remains fluid and continued collaboration will be critical. NATA has already submitted letters to the U.S. Department of Education and will continue to provide comments and advocacy resources to ensure athletic training students aren’t disadvantaged by new loan limits. We remain committed to protecting student access to federal loan programs and safeguarding the future pipeline of athletic trainers.