From passion to paycheck: How soaring debt is changing the way students choose majors in US

America’s $1.81 trillion student debt crisis has transformed college into a calculated investment rather than a path to personal growth. President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” tightened grants and loan limits, forcing students to pursue majors promising financial stability. As STEM fields dominate top-paying careers, the nation’s education divide between access and affordability deepens.