IL HR0678

Federal reclassification of architecture graduate degrees from "professional" to "non-professional" under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will limit new architecture graduate students to $20,500 annually in federal loans starting July 2026, less than half the amount available for professional degree students.

Architecture licensure requires 5-7 years of specialized education, thousands of hours of supervised experience, and passing national examinations, meeting the Higher Education Act of 1965's definition of a professional degree.

Reduced federal loan access will create financial barriers limiting the profession to wealthy students, reducing diversity and talent from middle and low-income backgrounds.

Fewer licensed architects will increase design and construction costs for schools, municipalities, developers, and homeowners, with disproportionate impact on suburban and rural Illinois communities.

Illinois House of Representatives urges the U.S. Department of Education to reverse the reclassification and restore architecture degrees' professional status.