Earnings thresholds by state

ED’s threshold · FAFSA, December 2025 · 2024 dollars (converted from June 2025 dollars) Difference between methods · December FAFSA minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars (converted from June 2025 dollars) ED’s threshold · PPD, December 2025 Difference between methods · PPD minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars ED’s threshold · FAFSA, March 2026 · 2024 dollars (FAFSA’s values converted from January 2026 dollars) Difference between methods · FAFSA minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars (FAFSA’s values converted from January 2026 dollars) ED’s threshold · Scorecard, March 2026 Difference between methods · March Scorecard minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars ED’s threshold · Scorecard, June 2026 Difference between methods · June Scorecard minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars ED’s threshold · Scorecard, October 2026 Difference between methods · October Scorecard minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars ED’s field benchmark · PPD, December 2025 Difference between methods · PPD minus Correct Methodology · 2024 dollars
Employed at surveyWages and salary onlyInflation part onlyEmployed at surveyInflation part onlyIPUMS, with errorInflation part onlyIPUMS, with errorInflation part onlyIPUMS, with errorEmployed at surveyInflation part only
Average difference: +$1,57874 institutions incorrectly failing0 incorrectly passing
Average difference: +$1,57874 institutions incorrectly failing0 incorrectly passing
Average difference: −$380105 programs incorrectly passing5 incorrectly failing
Average difference: −$380105 programs incorrectly passing5 incorrectly failing
Average difference: −$2,0450 institutions incorrectly failing122 incorrectly passing
Average difference: −$2,0450 institutions incorrectly failing122 incorrectly passing
Average difference: −$2,045373 programs incorrectly passing0 incorrectly failing
Average difference: −$2,045373 programs incorrectly passing0 incorrectly failing
Average difference: +$9240 programs incorrectly passing199 incorrectly failing
Average difference: +$9240 programs incorrectly passing199 incorrectly failing
No differenceAppropriate method, if applied to aligned cohorts
No differenceAppropriate method, if applied to aligned cohorts
Average difference: −$2,20091 programs incorrectly passing2 incorrectly failing2 more pass under the later $1 rule
Average difference: −$2,20091 programs incorrectly passing2 incorrectly failing2 more pass under the later $1 rule
Each dot is a state; the ring is the United States. Focus the chart and use the arrow keys to step through the dots, plus and minus to zoom and 0 to reset; Escape clears the pick.
Threshold under correct methodology · 2015–2019 and 2016–2020 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2015–2019 and 2016–2020 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2020–2024 ACS · 2024 dollarsThreshold under correct methodology · 2020–2024 ACS · 2024 dollarsField benchmark under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollarsField benchmark under correct methodology · 2019–2023 ACS, 2024 dollars

Only the PPD (December 2025) publishes bachelor’s thresholds by field, so this view shows the PPD alone.

    Shaded squares differ from the correct methodology.

    1 Who is included as “working”2 Earnings counted3 Inflation adjustment (target year)4 Data source5 ACS survey yearsDot in square 5: years other than 2019–23