The Education Department has added an earnings indicator to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that flags institutions whose graduates earn less than typical high‑school completers. The notice appears in the FAFSA Submission Summary and draws on College Scorecard data comparing median earnings four years after enrollment to state or national high‑school medians. About 23 percent of institutions—roughly 1,300 programs, many in the for‑profit sector—are now marked as “lower earnings,” a designation tied to more than $2 billion in federal aid to those students. Secretary Linda McMahon framed the tool as a consumer transparency step; critics warn it could quickly shift student demand and borrowing behavior and put pressure on already fragile programs that rely on federal aid.