A new rule regulating federal loans could have negative impacts on some degree programs, according to Pitt professors.
The Trump administration introduced the “Do No Harm” rule as a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and in June 2026, the Department of Education finalized and passed it. Under the new rule, undergraduate students in programs that on average earn less than individuals with high school diplomas or associate degrees annually will be ineligible for federal loans and some grants. Graduate students will be compared to workers with undergraduate degrees.
Heather McCambly, associate chair of the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations and Policy, said it’s important for institutions to be held accountable but that this rule is not the solution…