If a program's graduates earn less than if they hadn't enrolled, that program shouldn't be eligible for a federal student loan.
Okay, doesn't sound too bad, but...
You have other federal programs out there that encourage professionals and retirees to "pick up the slack" in some careers - like Education (Teach for America ring any bells?). Or the Government can determine that AI can backfill other career paths, meaning you don't need as many actually trained and educated mathematicians, or engineers, or service -including Medical Service - professionals, so who needs a Master's Degree when online Tech Training or Community College can bring an entry level employee up to speed.
My stepdaughter just became a licenced "Certified Behavioral Therapist", which used to require a 3 year Special Education program at a CC or Jr. College, similar to Certified Substitute Teacher. She only had to take 55 hours of Child Development 101 and the legal requirements for certification training; 45 online and 10 hours Red Cross Basic Medical and First Aid training.
I'm not saying she's not capable to do the job, but I'm not sure she has sufficient training and education to recognize when she's in over her head, and since she's working with Autistic and non-verbal kids, it can be really easy to be thrust into deep water - especially dealing with parents who might have different expectations that the employer and school district.
Conclusion added as edit -
Basically, if the Federal Government -the Department of "Labor" working with the Department of "Education", determine that a month or two of tech/familiarization certification training school or an online testing program similar to CLEP is a sufficient substitute for four to six years of education and a degree for an entry level position, that's the way their student loan policy will be enacted.
No more $75k or $150k loans for an engineer or nurse. $5k for a certificate from Trump U that says "yup, you can go apply somewhere now"...
= new reply since forum marked as read