CECU Statement on the AHEAD Earnings Accountability NPRM

April 17, 2026

Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Department of Education released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implementing new higher education accountability measures under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. CECU’s president and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, issued the following statement.

“Although this proposal is a dramatic improvement over the current Gainful Employment rule, several problems in the accountability formula remain unresolved, including regional wage differences, lack of differentiation of part-time versus full-time work, unreported tipped income, gender wage disparities, and the age range of the comparison group. We are pleased that the Department applied the accountability requirements universally across all sectors, an approach we have advocated for many years, ensuring that all schools can be held accountable for their outcomes. We also appreciate the Department’s recognition of a significant flaw in the American Community Survey that CECU identified, specifically the inclusion of certificate earners in the high school only earnings comparison group. We will be submitting comments to address the serious flaws and offer recommendations to fix the accountability formula."

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About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Representing more than 900 campuses across the United States, Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association representing private postsecondary trade schools and career colleges.