Debunking the Teacher and Social Worker Shortage Myth
Too many colleges leave students with debt they cannot afford to repay. Congress took a welcome step in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) by requiring all degree programs to meet minimum earnings thresholds to qualify for federal student loans. College accountability skeptics often express concern that performance standards will reduce access to “socially valuable” careers with lower pay, resulting in teacher and social worker shortages. However, the evidence does not support this view.
The report explores these findings and explains why performance standards are unlikely to create shortages in essential fields.
