Education Department proposes \"Do No Harm\" earnings test to replace gainful employment rule

The Education Department published a proposed rule on April 17, 2026, replacing the Obama-era Gainful Employment standard with a "Do No Harm" earnings test requiring all college programs to prove graduates earn more than workers with only a high school diploma. The test takes effect July 1, 2026, with results published in 2027 and penalties beginning in 2028. Programs failing two consecutive years lose access to federal student loans. Critics said the rule was weaker than Gainful Employment because it removed the debt-to-earnings ratio measure.