Congress has advanced a new earnings‑test policy that could bar federal aid for programs whose graduates earn below a statutory threshold, and Indiana legislators are considering a bill that would more aggressively eliminate low‑earning degrees at the state level. Reporting by Ryan Quinn shows the federal test will restrict access to Title IV aid for certain programs, while the Indiana measure would go further by allowing states to remove such programs entirely. Colleges offering vocational and certificate programs face immediate risk to enrollment and program viability; affected institutions may need to redesign curricula, strengthen labor‑market connections, or shift program delivery to meet earnings metrics. Policy proponents argue the test will steer students toward higher‑return credentials; critics warn it could shrink training pipelines for essential but lower‑paying occupations. Provosts, institutional research offices, and workforce partnerships will need to assess program earnings data and craft mitigation plans if the earnings test is implemented broadly.