Is my major cooked? · New federal rule
Could your major lose access to federal loans?
Pick your college and major. ZEIRO shows whether the program may be at risk under the new federal earnings rule, using official Department of Education data.
Official federal data · Free to use · No account required
What the new rule actually means
The rule in 30 seconds.
The high school test
Graduates of a bachelor's program must earn more than a typical high school graduate, about $32,000 a year.
Fail twice, lose loans
If a program misses that bar in 2 out of 3 years, its students can lose federal Direct Loans for at least two years.
Why schools care
Without federal loans, many students can't afford a program. Schools may shrink or cut programs that keep failing.
The test uses earnings, not the old 8% debt-to-earnings test. Debt is shown for context only. Rules are being phased in starting July 2026.
Why school matters
Same major. Very different reality.
Endangered degrees
Programs below the bar right now.
New York University · Film & Television
$23,869 vs $32,000 benchmark
Penn State · Music
$18,462 vs $32,000 benchmark
Michigan State University · Fine & Studio Arts
$19,566 vs $32,000 benchmark
Ohio State University · Dance
$21,167 vs $32,000 benchmark
Liberty University · Music
$28,003 vs $32,000 benchmark
Bachelor's graduates, 1 year after graduating. College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
Upgrade your options
If your major is at risk, don't panic. Build a better option.
Use ZEIRO to find a major that pays off and fits your goals, before you spend years and thousands on the wrong one.
How ZEIRO helps
Don't just find out. Figure out what's next.
Navigate the new rule
See where your program stands and what it means for your loans, in plain English.
Find a major that pays
Compare 180+ majors by starting pay, debt, payoff time and job demand.
Match it to your goals
Tell us what matters to you and ZEIRO ranks the majors that fit.
See the jobs it leads to
Explore real careers, entry pay and which majors get you there.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers.
Can the government actually remove loan eligibility?+
Yes. Under the new rule, a program that fails the earnings test in 2 of 3 years loses access to federal Direct Loans for its students.
Does this mean my major will disappear?+
Not automatically. Losing loans makes a program harder to afford, so some schools may shrink or cut programs that keep failing.
Why can the same major look different by school?+
Graduates' pay depends on the school, location and network. The rule checks each program at each school separately.
Where does ZEIRO get its data?+
From the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. The benchmark is an approximate national figure; the official test uses state-level numbers.