New Federal Rule: Colleges Must Prove Graduates Earn More or Lose Aid

Under federal rule, colleges must leave grads better off or lose financial aid

The U.S. Department of Education is rolling out a strict 'do no harm' test requiring college programs to prove graduates earn more than non-graduates or face losing federal student loans. While this aims to curb low-value degrees, critics warn it could devastate essential but lower-paying fields like the arts, early childhood education, and social work, potentially impoverishing our cultural life.

"We don't know how many artists we need, but I can guarantee that if you eliminate access, we will impoverish our cultural life nationally."