Federal Advocacy to Protect Public Health Degrees

NADrPH submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Department of Education to classify the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) as professional degrees under new federal student aid rules. We highlighted how excluding public health degrees would restrict student loan access, reduce workforce entry, and weaken national preparedness. Our recommendations emphasized accreditation standards, workforce shortages, and equity impacts to ensure federal policy supports, not undermines, the professionals who protect community health.