Recent moves by the President Donald J. Trump administration to reclassify college majors as “not professional” have left San José State students feeling that their degrees are being judged rather than supported, raising questions about both the value of their fields and the financial aid tied to them.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a legislative package signed by the Trump administration that includes tax cuts, education and loan reforms, and changes to health and social programs which benefit higher-income individuals and wealthier groups, according to Legal Defense Funds.
The bill reduced the list of federally recognized professional degrees, while also removing others such as nursing, social work and education, according to a Nov. 21, 2025, article by Newsweek.
For students like Natalie Cañas, the reclassification made by the Trump administration feels more like a judgment towards her than a financial policy.
Cañas, a third-year communications student minoring in public health, said that causes a bigger problem because people already tend to overlook the complexity and commitment behind her field.
“I wish people knew and understood more about my field that it’s more than just being able to speak more languages, but also about having the heart and dedication in assisting others, ” Cañas said. “It can cause people to lose the value of wanting to reach certain degrees.”
Communication studies programs train students in writing, public speaking, and digital media strategy that are used across fields like public relations, marketing, and organizational communication, according to the 2025 Indeed Career Guide.
Her undergraduate major isn’t something that worries her, but her long-term goal is to earn a master’s in nursing, which is one of the fields most affected by the bill.
“As a communication studies major right now, no, it doesn’t feel as targeted,” Cañas said. “But since I want to get a master’s in nursing, it makes me feel disrespected.”
Arella Eusebio, a fourth-year graphic design student, said she was frustrated on behalf of her friends in the engineering and nursing fields.
“The degrees that were listed are difficult to even pursue,” Eusebio said. “People forget to eat or sleep in those programs. They don’t deserve this.”
About half of the engineering students either switch majors or drop out before graduation, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Eusebio said that while art wasn’t labeled non-professional under the bill, creative fields carry their own bad reputation and stereotypes.
“Art has always been looked down on,” Eusebio said. “People don’t understand that art is everywhere.”
Jennifer Calderon, a third-year public health student, said the reclassification left her more confused than concerned.
“It’s dumb,” Calderon said. “What is the reasoning or criteria, or thought system for changing these degrees to not professional?”
Calderon, who plans to become a health inspector, said that the bill won’t stop her from doing what she wants to pursue.
“It won’t matter 10 years from now,” Calderon said, “STEM majors are very crucial.”
“We work hard for these degrees”, Cañas said. “People should understand the value behind what every college student works for and pursues.”
