The U.S. Department of Education said it will “harmonize” accountability metrics across federal programs, aiming to create uniform reporting standards for outcomes and institutional performance. Officials framed the effort as leveling the regulatory playing field; advocates worry harmonization could expose students to new compliance regimes without added safeguards. At the same time, federal proposals to tie program approvals to graduates’ earnings gained traction: Education Department discussions indicate nearly 6% of roughly 50,000 programs would fail under a proposed salary threshold for program viability. Regulators are weighing enforcement timelines and appeals processes. Schools and policy groups must now prepare for concurrent changes to reporting, consumer protections and program funding tied to measurable employment outcomes.