Graduate Students Advocate for Loan Parity for Advanced Degrees

December 22, 2025

This morning in Amherst, New York, Congressman Tim Kennedy (D-NY) held a press conference calling for swift passage of his legislation, H.R. 6574, the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. The LEAP Act would address proposed federal lifetime student loan limits for graduate education set at $100,000. As graduate school decision deadlines approach, Kennedy emphasized the need to restore financial stability and predictability for students pursuing advanced degrees, including audiology and speech-language pathology.

The LEAP Act seeks to correct borrowing disparities that will significantly reduce loan limits for many advanced-degree health professions-including audiology and speech-language pathology-starting next year. Under the bill, students in all post-baccalaureate degree programs would be eligible to borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a total borrowing cap of $200,000, instead of lower limits established by legislation enacted into law earlier this year.

The press conference featured educators, advocates, and students, including Aliyah Hodges, a second-year master's student in speech-language pathology at Buffalo State University. Hodges also serves on the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association's Executive Council as vice president for student state officers, Northeastern Region, where she represents graduate students and works to elevate student voices on issues affecting the professions.

Hodges shared how current loan limits can create financial barriers for students preparing to enter essential health care professions such as audiology and speech-language pathology.

Just last month, Hodges met with Rep. Kennedy during ASHA's Capitol Hill Day, where she and other constituents highlighted the impact of federal loan limits on students pursuing graduate degrees in audiology and speech-language pathology and the downstream effects on workforce supply and access to care.

"Speech-language pathology and audiology are essential health care professions," Hodges said. "When students can't afford to complete these degrees, patients lose access to care."

ASHA President Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke, who was highlighted in Rep. Kennedy's press release, emphasized that the bill "preserves access to higher federal loan limits, ensuring audiologists and speech-language pathologists can complete their training and meet growing workforce needs statewide."

Demand for audiologists and speech-language pathologists continues to grow, particularly in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and community-based settings. Advocates caution that without changes to current loan policies, workforce shortages and access-to-care challenges will persist.

ASHA will continue to engage with legislators and policymakers to advocate for federal student loan policies that ensure access to health professional education and support the future audiology and speech-language pathology workforce.

Take Action

Urge Congress to ensure access to higher federal student loans for graduate students in audiology and speech-language pathology.

Questions?

For more information on this issue, please contact Eric Masten, ASHA's director of federal affairs for education, at [email protected].