Education Department Cuts Aid for Thousands of Low-Wage College Programs
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 30
Education Department Cuts Aid for Thousands of Low-Wage College Programs
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 30
Summary
Monday’s finalized rule could strip federal financial aid from thousands of college programs over the next few years, especially in low-wage fields such as religion, cosmetology and the arts.
Under the new standard, undergraduate programs must show graduates earn more than people in their state with only a high school diploma to remain aid-eligible.
Graduate programs face a parallel test: their alumni must out-earn workers with bachelor’s degrees in similar fields.
The policy marks a broader shift toward tying federal student aid eligibility to graduates’ earnings rather than program enrollment alone.