A new "do no harm" rule in Republicans' "big, beautiful bill" could cut off federal loans for college programs whose graduates earn less than high school graduates. An HEA Group analysis estimates about 2% of programs are at risk, affecting roughly 40,000 students in July.
More students are choosing community college and short-term credentials over four-year degrees as costs rise and job prospects soften. New federal student loan caps and expanded Pell eligibility starting in mid-2026 could speed up the "un-college" shift.
Executive order 2026-07 ends new lifetime tenure at Oklahoma's regional universities, moving new hires to renewable contracts tied to performance and workforce needs while protecting current tenured faculty.
