Colleges with low-earning grads could lose access to student loans. Here's why.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

February 6, 2026 / 4:50 PM EST


Some college programs whose graduates earn less than workers with only a high school diploma could lose access to federal student loans under the Republicans' "big, beautiful bill" act, a change that could impact about 40,000 U.S. college students, according to a recent analysis.

About 2% of U.S. associate and bachelor's degree-granting programs are at risk under the new provision, called "do no harm," which takes effect in July, according to research from the HEA Group, a higher-education research firm.

The provision, part of the GOP tax and spending law's overhaul of student loans, requires programs to show that graduates earn more than high school graduates. College arts, religion and trade programs such as cosmetology are the most likely to be cut off from federal student loans, according to HEA.

Getting your money's worth

The new rule reflects Republican efforts to bar federal student loans for degrees that "leave students worse off than if they never went to college," according to a 2025 statement from the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/college-low-earnings-student-loans-do-no-harm-obbba-analysis/

[Norrrm]

1. Trump University?

Even though they relied on credit card debt more than student loans.

[multigraincracker]

2. I worked with someone at the factory

that had a Master Degree in education. Said he couldn’t afford to take the pay cut to take a job in the field.
The real problem is low pay for important work.

[paleotn]

11. Exactly!

It's pathetic and a gage of American priorities.

[Lonestarblue]

3. The goal is to cut off student loans for vulnerable people.

Minorities especially already earn less than white people in the same jobs, and women earn less than men. Minority women earn less than white women. The vicious cycle continues because our white supremacy government seeks every way possible to hurt women and minorities.

[valleyrogue]

6. White women also earn substantially less than men.

Let’s quit pretending sexism only applies to certain groups.

The goal is to force all women out of the labor force.

[mwmisses4289]

4. That's most college degree programs, then.

[valleyrogue]

5. So is the Trump administration supporting unionization?

The blue collar jobs are typically overpaid because men do them and many unionized while female dominated fields are seen as secondary wage earner jobs because it is assumed women are being fucked and financially supported by men.

Somehow I don’t think the fascists from P26 are in favor of unions.

[AZLD4Candidate]

7. About 2% of U.S. associate and bachelor's degree-granting programs are at risk under the new provision. . .

Bari Weiss's footprints are all over this line.

What are the 2% of degrees? I'm sure my double major of political science and history are on there, as is sociology, philosophy, and most of the humanities, along with fine arts.

High schools have been turned into rigorous test taking data providers, and now universities will be turned into job training centers and not places of education, advancement, and actual learning. All the owners of the world want are good little worker bees that are just smart enough to do the jobs and just dumb enough to accept the lousy pay, minimal benefits, destruction of overtime, removal of worker protections, vanishing pensions, ending of medicare, and the privatizing of social security.

[live love laugh]

8. Republicans have been fighting against cosmetologists' licensing for years now.

The provision, part of the GOP tax and spending law's overhaul of student loans, requires programs to show that graduates earn more than high school graduates. College arts, religion and trade programs such as cosmetology are the most likely to be cut off from federal student loans, according to HEA.

I’ve been seeing this since the beginning of the pandemic when people couldn’t get haircuts. Of course they are increasingly defunding a lot of educational programs. But I have been watching Republican representatives in multiple states testify about there being no need for cosmetology licenses. One clip I saw of a Republican last week was insane. He said that his daughter paints her own fingernails which proves that there is no need for licensing.

I’ve been watching to try and understand why they want this but writing this it dawns on me that it doesn’t matter. Republicans are just destructive. Period.

[quaint]

10. Just wondering how much Trump's hair dresser, face painter, etc. earn.

[sab390]

9. I hate to say this

I am all for anything that discourages people from taking out student loans. It is the worse evil. It is a violation of the 13th amendment. It is debters prison. You cannot have a loan you cannot discharge in bankruptcy, that is involtary servitude. Trump wants to take the social security from people with student debt. These are people who have lived their entire adult lives in debters prison. My tuition to the state university was 256 for all the credits you could take and 440 room and board. I hear all the Gen's saying "Ok Boomer" but this is what you have lost. The system is broken. Starving it until it dies maybe the best thing.

[The Madcap]

12. If you want an education in anything other than STEM

You almost have to be European. And then the tech companies will just lay you off at the drop of a hat.

The young should be finding a way to get out.

[FakeNoose]

13. This isn't good news for the agricultural schools

And how many of those are in the red states?

[ToxMarz]

14. I think just as often it is the college providing the program that is the problem

I think it would be better to drop eligibility for access to student loans for colleges who's graduates don't earn comparable salaries to avarages for the industry. Start with the bad actor institutional grifters before going after the programs people want or are most adept to learn. It's a slippery slope legislating peoples possible career choices. What next, early aptitude testing (or the right connections) and state designated career assignments.