- The Education Department, under the Trump administration, is considering a new rule to cut federal student loan access for undergraduate and graduate programs that result in low-paying jobs.
- The proposed rule would end federal student loan eligibility for undergraduate programs where graduates do not earn as much as a high school graduate, and for graduate programs where earnings are not above those of an average bachelor's degree holder.
- Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated the framework aims to ensure taxpayers do not subsidize postsecondary education programs that do not leave graduates better off.
- Thousands of programs, including culinary, personal services, and religious studies, could be impacted, with some estimates showing high failure rates under the proposed test.
- Organizations like the American Council on Education and the Association for Biblical Higher Education are urging critical adjustments or exemptions, citing flawed metrics and potential defunding of religious higher education, while the Education Department is reviewing comments.
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