Federal debates over graduate loan caps and new program‑level earnings thresholds are pressing institutions to reassess program pricing and recruitment. Proposed graduate borrowing limits have sparked concern among prospective master’s students and program directors; simultaneous policy proposals tie institutional eligibility to graduates’ earnings. A federal rulemaking exercise will test how many programs fail newly proposed salary thresholds; analysis suggests roughly 6% of programs could fall below a draft earnings floor. Colleges and law schools are already revising financial aid packaging and scholarship strategies to prevent access erosion for lower‑income and mid‑career students. Administrators need contingency planning for admissions, tuition strategies and transfer pathways if tighter loan limits or earnings‑based triggers are adopted; compliance teams should run scenario tests now to estimate enrollment and revenue impacts. Key decision point: 'Graduate loan caps' refers to limits on federal unsubsidized borrowing for master’s and professional degrees that could force institutions to increase institutional aid or shrink program size to preserve access.