New Trump Rule Could Cut Enrollment at Nearly Half of Arts MA Programs

A proposed US Department of Education rule published in April under the Trump administration could bar many arts Master’s programs from enrolling students who use federal loans, potentially affecting about 44% of fine and studio arts MA programs, according to Hyperallergic. The proposal would judge programs by whether alumni earnings four years after graduation exceed the median salary of Bachelor’s degree holders aged 25–34, replacing the current comparison to high school diploma holders in the same age range. If two consecutive cohorts within a three-year period fail the earnings test, the program could lose access to Federal Direct Loans, which provide subsidized borrowing and a post-graduation grace period. The Education Department estimates 6% of all degree programs would fail the new standards, and the proposal drew nearly 9,000 public comments; the New York City School of Visual Arts argued that success should not be measured solely by income. The department has until July to authorize the criteria, and the New York Times reported the guidelines may not take effect until next fall.

Read the full article at Hyperallergic