A new U.S. Department of Education rule aims to decrease student loan debt in higher education, which now total $1.7 trillion, but may limit grant eligibility for students seeking degrees with low-earning job prospects. Department of Education Studies Head Jerry Rosiek called the new rules another layer of “consumer protection” for young people looking at education options. Several UO professors agree, but are also skeptical about what the ED values in higher education. The metrics for student earnings are calculated four years after the students graduate, according to the ED. Most of the guidance the department is overhauling is 2019 regulations, which restricted loans based on what percentage of student borrowers’ income could be dedicated toward paying off student loans.