A little-noticed provision in the sweeping "One Big Beautiful" legislation sharply limits the amount of federal student loans that students earning professional degrees — including medical school — can borrow.

Rather than projecting one path, scenario planning prepares leaders for a range—from enrollment rebound to sharp decline.

President Trump’s new student loan plans offer forgiveness for some borrowers while restricting Public Service Loan Forgiveness for others, prompting lawsuits from 21 states. Critics say the changes create uncertainty and politicize debt relief.

Public confidence in higher education has plummeted in recent years amid high tuition prices, skyrocketing student loans and a dismal job market—plus ideological concerns from conservatives. Now, colleges are scrambling to prove their value to students.