Education policy
Emily A. Wiseman, PhD
I support higher education institutions, systems, and coalitions as a consultant and researcher. I also write about the policy landscape shaping colleges and universities. Read recent analysis or learn more about me.
Recent writing
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Every Program, One Test: The STATS Earnings Accountability Final Rule
On July 1, 2026, the Department of Education published the final rule implementing the WFTCA 'Do No Harm' earnings test. For the first time, every program at every Title IV institution must show that its graduates out-earn a benchmark. We mapped all 49,860 programs to see who is exposed.
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The $15 Billion Question: What Happens When Grad PLUS Disappears?
On July 1, 2026, federal Grad PLUS loans disappear, replaced by hard annual caps on direct loans. We analyzed two federal data sources to map where the $15 billion was going, who loses access, and how large the gaps will be.
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Which Programs Don't Pay Off? Inside the 2026 Federal Earnings Test Data
The Department of Education's 2026 Program Performance Data identifies 2,880 college programs whose graduates earn less than the regional benchmark for high school grads. Here's where they are, what they teach, and what the data leaves out.
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How the New Federal Earnings Test for Colleges Works
The STATS Earnings Accountability framework created a new accountability rule that compares program graduates' earnings to a regional benchmark. Here's how the test actually operates, what triggers sanctions, and when they bite.