University of Tennessee Majors Pass Federal Earnings Test

Sixty degree programs at the institution cleared new federal financial benchmarks for student loan eligibility.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Aid

Flat opaque gouache-painted editorial illustration of a solitary wooden lectern in a quiet stone courtyard, symbolizing university program success. — Sixty undergraduate programs at the University of Tennessee have cleared new U.S. Department of Education benchmarks for student loan program eligibility. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the federal government tie college loan eligibility to the average earnings of university graduates?

University of Tennessee undergraduate programs have successfully cleared the new federal earnings benchmark established by the U.S. Department of Education. This assessment evaluates the workforce value of degrees by comparing graduate earnings to local income data.

Why it matters

The Department of Education implemented this rule to hold institutions accountable for the workforce compensation associated with their degrees. Programs that fail this test twice within a three-year period will lose access to the federal Direct Loan Program.

Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn an average of $34,609, remaining above the $32,989 Tennessee median income benchmark. Drama and Theatre Arts graduates report average annual earnings of $41,414.

The players

University of Tennessee

This is a public research university system that serves as the flagship higher education institution for the state of Tennessee.

U.S. Department of Education

This federal agency establishes policies, administers financial aid programs, and enforces accountability standards for American schools and colleges.

The HEA Group

This research and consulting organization specializes in analyzing higher education data to provide insights into institutional performance and student outcomes.

The details

The Department of Education calculates graduate earnings four years after completion to determine program eligibility. Universities have the option to appeal a low-earning classification or choose to remove a program from federal loan participation for five years.

The HEA Group released the program analysis dataset in January 2026.
The Department of Education issued the final accountability rule in summer 2026.
The first federal earnings test for loan eligibility will occur in early 2027.
Programs will apply under these new rules for the 2027-28 award year.

Culture Shift

The federal move toward measuring workforce value marks a departure from traditional institutional autonomy in academic degree offerings. This shift prioritizes measurable economic outcomes as a standard metric for higher education funding eligibility.

Students enrolling in these programs can maintain access to federal student loans as these degrees meet current government benchmarks. Future graduates should monitor these performance metrics as they may influence the availability of federal financial aid for specific majors.

The takeaway

Students should evaluate the long-term earnings potential of their chosen field of study alongside academic interests. Researching how specific degree programs align with government accountability standards can help ensure continued access to federal loan support.