ASCP Seeks Exemption to Student Loan Limits for Pathologists and Laboratory Professionals

ASCP is urging the federal government to exempt medical students and students from other health professions from new limits on the amount of Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans they can borrow. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, ASCP and 27 other medical societies, universities, and hospitals banded together to urge the federal government to help address persistent health workforce shortages across rural and other underserved communities. 

In July, Congress enacted President Trump’s signature budget and tax bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which imposed major cuts and restrictions on student loan programs. The measure eliminates the GradPLUS program, used by 40 percent of medical students, and imposes limits on the amount of financial aid a student can borrow. The legislation sets a lifetime cap of $100,000 for students seeking master’s degrees and $200,000 for doctoral, medical, and professional degrees. 

Given that federal student loan programs are critical to workforce development, ASCP is concerned that the new limits could deter individuals from seeking careers as pathologists and laboratory professionals. According to the Education Data Initiative, medical school graduates exceed the loan caps, as they average about $240,000 in student loan debt. The American Association of Medical Colleges reports that the average cost of attending a private medical school is $390,848 compared to $286,454 for in-state public medical school.   

For more about changes in store for federal student loan programs, click here