The U.S. Department of Education added a new earnings indicator to FAFSA that flags institutions where graduates’ median earnings lag those of high-school completers. The disclosure appears on students’ FAFSA Submission Summaries and links to College Scorecard data so applicants see postgraduation median earnings alongside other college choices. The Education Department also published a related list identifying roughly 1,300 institutions with 'lower earnings' outcomes; the majority are for-profit providers and certificate programs. Officials framed the move as improving transparency so students can make better-informed borrowing decisions, while some advocates cautioned that the metric uses older cohorts and may not capture program-level gains or regional variations. Admissions and financial-aid offices will face fresh counseling demand and potential enrollment shifts as applicants use the new indicator. Institutions flagged as 'lower earnings' may need to reassess program value, career services and how they present outcomes to prospective students.