On July 29, 2026 a blog post explained that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rewrote federal aid rules for colleges, replacing the prior debt‑to‑earnings ratio with a single earnings benchmark measured against high‑school diploma outcomes. In response, a number of states have introduced statutes that bar state funding for degree programs labeled “low‑earning” or “underperforming.” Official source
The State University System of Florida identified 214 programs in its 2025 productivity review and intends to eliminate at least 18, including bachelor degrees in studio/fine art and visual art. Indiana’s new law requires the higher‑education commission to assess accrediting agencies and cut programs that produce low‑earning graduates, affecting music and dance majors at major universities. Missouri’s Accountability for Low‑Earning Outcome Degrees Act of 2026 prohibits state funds for such programs, while Ohio’s Advance Ohio Higher Education Act mandates removal of degrees issuing fewer than five diplomas in any three‑year period, prompting Ohio University to propose suspending a BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts. Oklahoma’s 2025 review flagged 357 low‑producing programs, with 62 slated for removal, and Utah’s strategic reinvestment plan targets more than 271 programs, including art‑history and dance offerings. Official source
Arts educators caution that these cuts may reduce access to creative study and displace current students, even though some policies allow them to finish existing degrees. The latest AEP Economic Prosperity Report recorded $151.7 billion in economic activity and 2.6 million jobs in the arts sector, underscoring the importance of earnings metrics that capture freelance, grant and residency income. AEP will continue to track how earnings‑based funding rules influence arts education accessibility. Official source