Federal policy moves this week put new pressure on graduate education funding and program accountability. Proposed caps on graduate federal borrowing would restrict master’s and professional students’ access to federal loans, prompting concerns among prospective students and admissions offices about affordability. At the same time, Education Department proposals to hold programs to salary thresholds would subject nearly 6% of roughly 50,000 programs to potential penalties. Together, the borrowing limits and earnings‑based accountability could narrow pathways into expensive professional degrees and force program redesigns or marketing shifts at law, business and other graduate schools.