A new U.S. Department of Education rule aims to decrease student loan debt in higher education, which now total $1.7 trillion, but may limit grant eligibility for students seeking degrees with low-earning job prospects.
College of Education Department Head Jerry Rosiek called the new rules another layer of “consumer protection” for young people looking at education options. Several UO professors agree, but are also skeptical about what the ED values in higher education.
“On one hand, I totally think protecting students from excessive debt is important; but the metrics being used here are focused on earnings, and there’s lots of other values and life paths that are not captured,” Colin Ives, incoming department head for the School of Art and Design, said.
How the metrics work
If college graduates with bachelor’s degrees are not earning more than their high school-educated counterparts in the same field of study, students in low-earning programs might not be eligible to receive direct federal loans. The new rule is expected to take effect in July 2027…