Monday, October 26, 2026
How New Federal Student Loan Rules Could Affect Acting Programs
Backstage: Twenty-seven percent of American students borrow an average of about $40,000 in federal loans to pay for college. But for students considering certain acting programs, access to those loans could soon be at risk. Under a new Department of Education provision, tying federal loan eligibility to graduate earnings, Congress has a new warning: Buyer beware.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This new framework at first glance has some sense to it, which is why I think a lot of people will overlook its disproportionate disadvantages. As with a lot of things the current administration tries to implement, it is done hastily with little regard for getting it done in a way that doesn’t heavily negatively impact people’s lives the first time around. This provision reduces federal loan eligibility for programs that produce graduates making the same or less than those without degrees in the industry. This makes sense, and then you think about it for a second, and then you say “did someone write this inebriated?” For many careers, an entry level position for degree holders and non-degree holders may be similar or even the same, but then after a few years deviates and the degree holder’s income (on average) begins to exceed the non-degree holders by an increasing margin. While I don’t agree with this policy, if I had to implement it I would make the initial year of measurement 6-10 years after graduation. I believe it could be more useful to look at net worth as well, this way student loans and other college/non-college expenses are factored into the discussion.
This new policy, regardless of its many other flaws, completely disregards the idea of education for education's sake. While I’m not saying that one should take out loans without a clear plan of what to do with them, I do believe that there is intrinsic value in learning. It is a good thing to learn, even if it serves no financial purpose, even if it will not lead to a job. I think this action by the current administration is demonstrating a clear deprioritization of education. With this they are saying that education does not matter unless it leads to financial dividends. With this mindset, who will train the next artists? As artists we know we are not going into the most financially stable field, but we chose it anyway - should we not have that right to pursue this education? It is another choice disappointing but unsurprising from our current administration.
Post a Comment