02/04/2026
Ensure Social Work Remains a Professional Degree
Description
The Department of Education (DOE) has updated its definition of “professional degrees,” a classification that determines federal student loan eligibility for graduate programs. Historically, social work has been recognized as a professional degree, allowing MSW students to access federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and other critical funding. Under the proposed rule, social work would no longer meet the professional degree criteria, creating significant financial barriers for students. This change comes amid growing demand for social workers in behavioral health, child welfare, education, and community services—sectors already facing severe workforce shortages.
CSWE and the Social Work Leadership Roundtable are advocating to ensure social work retains its professional degree status and continued access to federal financial aid. See below for talking points you can use in your advocacy to protect the social work profession.
Why does this matter?
DOE excluding social work from its proposed definition of “professional degrees” would significantly limit access to federal student loans for MSW students.
Reduced access to education will worsen workforce shortages and harm communities nationwide.
Many MSW students rely on federal loans to afford graduate education.
Reclassifying social work would make it harder for students—especially those from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds—to enter the profession.
Fewer graduates means fewer social workers available to meet growing mental health and social service needs.
Social workers make up the bulk of the mental health workforce in the U.S.
They are essential to child welfare, behavioral health, schools, healthcare, and community-based services.
Fewer MSW graduates will increase recruitment and turnover costs for agencies.
Weakened public systems ultimately increase costs for taxpayers.
Bottom line?
Excluding social work from the professional degree definition will harm students, communities, and public systems.
Recognizing social work as a professional degree is essential to meeting the nation’s mental health and social service needs.
WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR?
Include social work in the final DOE definition of professional degrees.
Preserve equitable access to federal student loans for MSW students.
Strengthen—not restrict—pathways into social work education.
Additional policy priorities:
Expand access to federal grants, training programs, and loan repayment opportunities.
Protect and grow key funding streams, including:
Pell Grants
Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program
HRSA scholarships and loan repayment initiatives
How to submit comments?
Visit this page
Click “Comment” and upload or paste your response.
What to include in your comment:
Share personal or institutional experience (e.g., teaching, supervising students, practicing, or hiring social workers).
Insist that social work be included in the definition of professional degrees.
Explain how reduced loan access would affect:
MSW students and affordability
Workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health
Access to services in rural and underserved communities
After you comment:
Consider sharing your comment across your social media networks! Encourage colleagues in your network to submit their comment, as well. If you post, please use the hashtag
