The U.S. Department of Education has proposed removing MSW and DSW degrees from the "Professional Degree" category under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). We want to clarify what this means for our profession.

What does this mean for you?

• If you are a practicing social worker or have already borrowed federal loans, your current loans, repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility, and licensure will not change.
• This proposal only affects future borrowing for graduate students, such as
  • Future MSW students
  • Current MSW students who will need additional loans before completing their degree

Under the proposed rule, MSW and DSW programs would not qualify as "professional degrees," reducing federal loan limits to $20,500 per year and a lifetime total of $100,000. This reduction may not cover the full cost of many MSW or DSW programs, forcing students to rely on private loans that are not eligible for PSLF.

Why does this matter? 

Declassifying the MSW and DSW degrees will reduce access to affordable social work education, thereby increasing reliance on high-interest private loans. Additionally, it could lead to declines in enrollment in social work educational programs, especially among first-generation, low-income, and BIPOC students.

This proposal affects the future pipeline of social workers and the strength and diversity of our profession. NASW-Florida will submit public comments when the comment period opens and will share instructions for members to participate.

Your voice matters!

Sign the petition - Action Center - and ensure that the Department of Education hears from you! Also, we will notify all Florida social workers when the Department of Education opens public comments. 

#SocialWorkIsProfessional #ProtectSocialWorkDegrees