Changes in architecture degree classification may push students out of the profession says AIA

The American Institute of Architects has released a statement criticising the federal government's exclusion of architecture as a professional degree, which it says may discourage students from becoming architects.

Late last year, under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the advanced architecture degrees Master and Doctor of Architecture (M Arch and D Arch) were classified as "graduate" instead of "professional" programs, which has sparked online discussion around the nature of the discipline.

"Architects are undeniably professionals, dedicated to the health, safety and welfare of the public," said 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) president Illya Azaroff.

"Unnecessary barriers for students"

"By disregarding the clear evidence that accredited architecture degrees meet their own criteria for professional programs, this rule creates unnecessary barriers for students – especially those from lower-income backgrounds – seeking to join and thrive in the architecture profession."

"This comes at a critical moment when our communities urgently need more architects addressing housing, infrastructure, and climate resilience challenges."

By definition in the United States, a professional degree is one that "helps students prepare for careers in specific fields" according to Northeastern University, which includes studies such as law, pharmacy, medicine, and education.

A graduate or academic degree is one that is dedicated to a "specific field of study and is often more research-oriented than professional programs".

Before the recent Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) ruling, put forth by the US Department of Education, the term "professional" acted more as a guideline for colleges, so that institutions could self-identify and distinguish between their own programs.

However, under the RISE rule, these terms are now fixed, and it's under these strict definitions that Congress has determined how much borrowing a student can do.

"Higher-cost private loans"

Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act implemented lifetime "caps" on borrowing for students, such as $20,500 annually and a $100,000 lifetime cap for master's programs, and eliminated the Grad PLUS loan, which covered the full cost of tuition.

"The Department's narrow implementation reserves higher caps for a short list of fields and leaves architecture under lower graduate caps that often do not cover the cost of education," said the AIA.

"That will push many students toward higher-cost private loans or out of the profession completely."

In light of the ruling, the organisation is calling upon the government to reconsider the definition of an advanced architecture degree.

"AIA looks forward to working with Congress to correct this policy failure. Federal loan rules should reflect the reality that architects are licensed professionals whose work is central to safety, housing supply, and economic growth," said Azaroff.

Recently, professors Andrea Dietz and Peggy Deamer called this ruling "devastating, and also welcome", while Dezeen explored how architecture fees got so low in the UK.

Photography is courtesy of Harvard GSD.

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