The American Institute of Architects issued a statement criticizing the federal government’s exclusion of architecture as a professional degree, saying it could discourage students from becoming architects.
Late last year, under the One Big Beautiful Bill, advanced architecture degrees Master and Doctor of Architecture (M Arch and D Arch) were classified as “graduate” instead of “professional” programs, which has sparked an online discussion about the nature of the discipline.
“Architects are undeniably professionals, dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of the community,” said 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) president Illya Azaroff.
“Unnecessary obstacles for students”
“In defiance of clear evidence that accredited architecture degrees meet their technical program requirements, this legislation creates unnecessary barriers for students — especially those from low-income backgrounds — who want to join and succeed in the construction profession.”
“This comes at a critical time when our communities urgently need architects to address housing, infrastructure and climate challenges.”
By definition in the United States, professional degrees are those that “help students prepare for careers in specific fields” according to Northeastern University, which includes courses such as law, pharmacy, medicine, and education.
An academic degree or degree is one that is dedicated to “a specific field of study and is usually research oriented rather than professional programs”.
Before the recent decision of Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE), set by the US Department of Education, the word “professional” served mainly as a guide for colleges, so that institutions can identify and distinguish between their programs.
However, under the RISE Act, these terms are now fixed, and it is under these strict definitions that Congress decides how much student borrowing can do.
“The most expensive private loan”
Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act implemented lifetime “caps” on student loans, such as $20,500 per year and a $100,000 lifetime cap for master’s programs, and ended Grad PLUS loans, which cover the full cost of tuition.
“The Department’s narrow implementation keeps top scores short-listed for fields and leaves architecture under low caps that often don’t cover education costs,” AIA said.
“That will push many students into more expensive private loans or out of the profession altogether.”
As a result of this decision, the organization is asking the government to reconsider the definition of advanced degrees in architecture.
“The AIA looks forward to working with Congress to correct this policy failure. Federal mortgage regulations must reflect the fact that architects are licensed professionals whose work is fundamental to safety, housing, and economic growth,” said Azaroff.
Recently, professors Andrea Dietz and Peggy Deamer called the decision “bad, and we welcome it”, while Dezeen examined how property prices have fallen in the UK.
Images courtesy of Harvard GSD.