(Image via usresistnews)
Staff Editor: Aidan Danforth
Email: adanforth@umassd.edu
During Donald Trump’s second stint as President of the United States, he has been working to restrict student loan access to specific degrees that do not earn enough. This has been an ongoing process through his One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has impacted taxes and federal student loan aid.
As of recently, the Department of Education is working towards a policy called the “do no harm” provision, which assesses the earnings of graduates compared to those who did not go to college. This will only make it harder for students to take out loans, since the administration plans to restrict support only towards educational fields that pay enough.
“If a program cannot show that it leaves its graduates financially better off than if they had never enrolled, it should not be underwritten by federal taxpayers,” Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a statement.
The fields most affected by this new rule include social work, music, philosophy, English literature, elementary and secondary education, art, religious studies, film, counseling, and more.
This new provision has raised questions among UMassD students pursuing degrees for reasons unrelated to finances. Additionally, a “high paying” versus “low paying” job can be highly subjective as it can depend on one’s lifestyle, needs, and even location.
Oftentimes, many college students have a variety of reasons they go into their field, and money isn’t the only thing on students’ minds as they make their way through higher education.
“I decided to go into this field because I’ve always enjoyed helping others, and I know it sounds cliche, but I have a passion for helping people and everyone always confided in me for things. I also had an amazing teacher in my high school who really made me love the field and study of psychology,” said Summer Franco, a senior majoring in psychology.
Gina Cuba, a graduate school student focusing on social work, said she knows “how impactful a therapist can be for an active duty military member or veteran to focus on trauma specifically which would encompass PTSD and MST, which is extremely prevalent within the military.”
Many students have similar aspirations to Franco and Cuba, wanting to go into a specific study to make a positive impact on the world. They wish to create change beyond themselves, which is essential in shaping people’s lives each day.
This potential cut of student loans deeply affects those pursuing these fields, making it harder to get the financial break needed to complete school and earn those degrees needed for the profession.
“When I first saw this news pop up I was very angry, heartbroken, and immediately worried for my future. Just from the headline I was upset and then seeing that my career path is on the list made me more upset.” Franco said.
Sarah Moniz, a senior majoring in English had a similar reaction.
“My reaction was utter disbelief followed by anger. While I’m extremely outraged, it makes total sense that an administration without literacy skills– see any speech by our current President– and limited empathy would discourage creative careers that involve critical thinking and compassion,” she said.
This policy won’t just have an effect on the individuals currently pursuing these fields, as they may also drive others away from going to college for these degrees.
It will also act as means to “continue to broaden the gap of who gets education and who is deemed unworthy of education. This continues to divide one another and force these students to ‘figure it out’ or go without it…” Cuba said.
These new laws and provisions have the potential to erase all that has been done to make college more affordable. Past presidents such as Barack Obama implemented programs to increase grants, offer safer private loans, and provide easier access so all students are able to get the assistance they need.
The Trump Administration seems to only be making it so those who are going into high-paying fields are able to afford college, while those in lower-paying fields are stuck in a mountain of debt with no government support.
There is still a lot to uncover with this story; however, Trump’s idea of making America great again is only making current and upcoming college students more anxious about their futures.
College students already have a lot going on with classes, campus involvements, social lives, and figuring out who they want to be– all while living in a world full of conflict that hardworking people strive to change regardless of their paychecks.