Outpacing the New Federal Earnings Mandate

By tying federal student aid eligibility directly to post-college earnings, the One Big Beautiful Bill raised the stakes for institutions nationwide. Current rules are relatively forgiving, but our research shows future standards have the potential to be tougher. Without a plan to prepare, both aid eligibility and student access could be at risk.

EAB has identified four near-term strategies institutions can deploy to improve post-college outcomes without redesigning your curricula. Spotting risks early helps leaders protect their students and institutions.