,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #cie #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fdih ,report ,no4 #aai-dfa ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #i1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,guthrie 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,onder1 and ,mrs4 ,trahan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,january #ba1 #bjbf ,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,norcross and ,mr4 ,vindman ,january #ba1 #bjbf ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,december #i1 #bjbe ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to increase transparency in college tuition for consumers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,student ,financial ,clarity ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,transparency in college tuition for consumers 7a7 ,amendment ,section #acb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajae;a7 is amended by striking subsections 7a7 through 7j7 and inserting the following3 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,college scorecard website ,the term ,college ,scorecard website means the ,college ,scorecard website required under subsection 7b7 and includes any successor website4 7#b7 ,cost of attendance ,the term cost of attendance has the meaning given such term in section #dgb7;a74 7#c7 ,required costs ,the term required costs means the sum of all the items listed in section #dgb7;a7 that are required by an institution of higher education for a program of study for the program length of a program of study1 for the time to credential for a student1 or for an award year of a program of study1 as applicable1 including-- 7,a7 the tuition and fees normally assessed a student enrolled in such program of study carrying the same academic workload1 as determined by the institution2 and 7,b7 in a case in which the institution requires a student to reside in institutionally owned or operated housing or to use institutionally owned or operated food services1 the applicable standard allowance for such housing or food services determined by the institution in accordance with section #dgb7;a77#e74 7#d7 ,amount of grant and scholarship aid ,the term amount of grant and scholarship aid means the sum of all of the grant and scholarship aid that is available to the student for the program length of a program of study1 for the time to credential for a student1 or for an award year of a program of study1 as applicable1 that a student does not have to repay1 including need-based1 merit-based1 or athletic-based1 or another type of grant and scholarship aid1 that is-- 7,a7 offered under title ,,iv2 7,b7 offered through other ,federal programs2 7,c7 offered by the institution2 7,d7 offered by a ,state2 or 7,e7 offered by any other source4 7#e7 ,net price required for completion 7,a7 ,total net price required for completion ,the term total net price required for completion means1 with respect to a student in a program of study-- 7i7 the required costs charged to such student for the program of study for the time to credential2 minus 7ii7 the amount of grant and scholarship aid that is available to the student for such program for the time to credential4 7,b7 ,annual net price required for completion ,the term annual net price required for completion means1 with respect to a student in a program of study-- 7i7 the required costs charged to such student for the program of study for an award year2 minus 7ii7 the amount of grant and scholarship aid that is available to the student for such program for such award year4 7#f7 ,net price of attendance 7,a7 ,total net price of attendance ,the term total net price of attendance means1 with respect to a student in a program of study1 the sum of-- 7i7 the total net price required for completion2 and 7ii7 the sum1 for the time to credential1 of all the costs listed in section #dgb7;a7 that are not required costs4 7,b7 ,annual net price of attendance ,the term annual net price of attendance means1 with respect to a student in a program of study1 the net price of attendance for a specific year of the program of study1 determined by disaggregating the total net price of attendance for the student by each year of the student's time to credential4 7#g7 ,program length ,the term program length means the minimum amount of time in weeks1 months1 or years that is specified in the catalog1 marketing materials1 or other official publications of an institution of higher education for a full-time student to complete the requirements to obtain the degree or credential awarded for a specific program of study4 7#h7 ,time to credential ,the term time to credential means1 with respect to a student1 the actual amount of time in weeks1 months1 or years it takes the student to complete the requirements to obtain the degree or credential awarded for a specific program of study4 7b7 ,consumer information 7#a7 ,availability of information for title iv institutions and programs ,not later than #ah months after the effective date of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall make publicly available on the ,college ,scorecard website the following information with respect to students of the institution who have received ,federal financial assistance described in paragraph 7#b77;,i71 for the most recent award year for which such information is available3 7,a7 ,institutions ,with respect to each institution of higher education that participates in a program under title ,,iv1 the following3 7i7 ,a link to the website of the institution4 7ii7 ,a link to the ,universal ,net ,price calculator described in subsection 7c7 and1 if applicable1 a link to any net price calculator developed by the institution in accordance with paragraph 7#g7 of such subsection4 7iii7 ,information on the type of institution1 including predominant and highest credential awarded1 research intensity1 and programs of study offered4 7iv7 ,in the case of an institution that requires scores for a college entrance examination 7such as the ,,sat or ,,act7 to be submitted1 data on such submitted scores4 7v7 ,the acceptance rate1 determined by calculating the percentage of individuals who submitted a completed application to the institution who were accepted for enrollment4 7vi7 ,the institution's cohort default rate1 as defined under section #dce7m74 7vii7 ,a link to the website of the institution containing the information on campus safety required to be collected under section #dhe7;i74 7,b7 ,institutions and programs of study ,with respect to each such institution and to each program of study at each such institution1 the following3 7i7 ,the geographic location4 7ii7 ,information on student enrollment1 including the number and percentage of students enrolled full-time1 less than full-time1 and enrolled in distance education4 7iii7 ,information on the number of degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students who have transferred from another institution4 7iv7 ,information on student progression and completion1 including time to credential and rates of withdrawal1 retention1 transfer1 or completion4 7v7 ,information on college costs and financial aid1 including-- 7,i7 the average1 median1 minimum1 and maximum values of-- 7aa7 the required costs for such award year 7determined for an institution based on the required costs for all programs of study72 7bb7 the cost of attendance for such award year 7determined for an institution based on the cost of attendance for all programs of study72 7cc7 the amount of grant and scholarship aid received by students for such award year 7determined for an institution based on the amount of grant and scholarship aid received by students for all programs of study72 7dd7 the information described in item 7cc7 and subclause 7,,ii77cc71 disaggregated-- 7,,aa7 by the type of source described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e7 of subsection 7a77#d72 and 7,,bb7 by whether such aid is need-based1 merit-based1 or athletic-based1 or is another type of aid2 7,,ii7 with respect to students who completed a credential during the most recent award year1 the average1 median1 minimum1 and maximum values of-- 7aa7 the program length 7determined for an institution based on the program length for all programs of study72 7bb7 the time to credential 7determined for an institution based on the time to credential for all programs of study72 7cc7 the amount of grant and scholarship aid received for the time to credential 7determined for an institution based on the amount of grant and scholarship aid received by students for all programs of study72 7dd7 the total net price required for completion 7determined for an institution based on the total net price required for completion for all programs of study72 and 7ee7 the total net price required for attendance 7determined for an institution based on the total net price required for attendance for all programs of study72 7,,iii7 the number and percentage of students receiving any amount of grant and scholarship aid for such award year1 and with respect to students who completed a credential during the most recent award year1 the number and percentage of such students receiving any amount of grant and scholarship aid for the time to credential2 7,,iv7 the average annual percentage change and average annual dollar change in the required costs for each of the three most recent academic years for which data are available2 and 7,v7 the average annual percentage change and average annual dollar change in the total and annual net price required for completion for each of the three most recent academic years for which data are available4 7vi7 ,information on student debt and repayment1 including-- 7,i7 the average1 median1 minimum1 and maximum amounts borrowed by students under title ,,iv2 7,,ii7 information with respect to repayment of loans made under title ,,iv1 including borrower-based repayment rates1 dollar-based repayment rates1 and time spent in repayment2 and 7,,iii7 the number and percentage of students who-- 7aa7 are borrowers of a loan made under title ,,iv2 7bb7 are not borrowers of a loan made under title ,,iv1 but have at least one parent who is a borrower of a loan made under title ,,iv on behalf of the student2 and 7cc7 are borrowers of a loan made under title ,,iv1 and have at least one parent who is a borrower of a loan made under title ,,iv on behalf of the student4 7vii7 ,information on the earnings of students1 including the average1 median1 minimum1 and maximum values of-- 7,i7 with respect to students who complete a program of study in the most recent award year for which data are available-- 7aa7 the annual earnings of such students2 and 7bb7 the value-added earnings 7as defined in section #dha7;b77#c77;,a77iv77 of such students2 and 7,,ii7 the annual earnings of students who were enrolled in a program of study at the institution during the most recent award year for which data are available1 and who at the time the information is reported-- 7aa7 have not completed such program of study2 and 7bb7 are not enrolled at the institution in any program of study4 7,c7 ,programs of study ,with respect to each program of study at each such institution1 the credential awarded for completion of the program of study4 7#b7 ,disaggregated information ,the ,secretary shall ensure the information described in paragraph 7#a7 is disaggregated1 as applicable1 by the following student characteristics3 7,a7 ,financial circumstances including-- 7i7 household income categories1 as determined by students' and families' adjusted gross income2 and 7ii7 student aid index categories1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,sex4 7,c7 ,race and ethnicity4 7,d7 ,classification as a student with a disability4 7,e7 ,enrollment status1 including part-time or full-time enrollment1 and status as a distance education student4 7,f7 ,status as a first year1 second year1 third year1 or subsequent year student1 based on the number of years a student has been enrolled at the institution or in the program of study1 as applicable4 7,g7 ,status as an in-district1 in-,state1 or out-of-,state student4 7,h7 ,status as an international student4 7,i7 ,the type of ,federal financial assistance received1 including-- 7i7 a ,pell ,grant2 7ii7 a loan made under title ,,iv2 and 7iii7 assistance described in section #aca7;f77#d7 administered1 sponsored1 or supported by the ,department of ,defense or the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,j7 ,status as a participant in a program described in section #aaf7;b77#c77;,a77ii7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;b77#c77;,a77ii774 7#c7 ,comparisons2 access2 privacy ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the ,college ,scorecard website-- 7,a7 includes a method for users to easily compare institutions and programs1 including in a manner that allows for such comparison based on-- 7i7 the institutional and program information described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7ii7 the student characteristics described in paragraph 7#b72 7,b7 provides access to information in an electronic and downloadable format2 and 7,c7 complies with applicable ,federal privacy statutes and uses appropriate statistical disclosure limitation techniques necessary to ensure that the data released to the public cannot be used to identify specific individuals1 including with respect to disaggregated information under paragraph 7#b74 7#d7 ,annual updates2 adjustments 7,a7 ,annual data ,the ,secretary shall annually update the data on the ,college ,scorecard website required under this subsection4 7,b7 ,adjustments ,the ,secretary may adjust the data required under subclauses 7,,iv7 and 7,v7 of paragraph 7#a77;,b77v7 using the ,consumer ,price ,index if the ,secretary determines such adjustment is necessary4 7#e7 ,data collection ,the ,commissioner for ,education ,statistics shall continue to update and improve the ,integrated ,postsecondary ,education ,data ,system 7referred to in this section as ,,ipeds71 including the reporting of information by institutions and the timeliness of the data collected4 7c7 ,universal net price calculator 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ah months after the effective date of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall establish1 on a dedicated website of the ,department1 a ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator that-- 7,a7 allows an individual to select one or more institutions of higher education and one or more programs of study offered by each selected institution for which estimates shall be calculated2 7,b7 makes available to the individual1 with respect to each selected institution and each selected program of study1 the individual's-- 7i7 annual estimated net price required for completion for each year of expected enrollment based on the program length of a program of study1 based on the average annual net price required for completion for similarly situated students 7based on the individual's information described in subparagraph 7,c77iv77 for such institution or program for the most recent award year1 adjusted in accordance with clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,c72 7ii7 total estimated net price required for completion equal to the sum of the annual estimated net price required for completion for each year described in clause 7i72 7iii7 annual estimated net price of attendance for each year of expected enrollment based on the program length of a program of study1 based on the average annual net price of attendance for similarly situated students 7based on the individual's information described in subparagraph 7,c77iv77 for such institution or program for the most recent award year1 adjusted in accordance with clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,c72 and 7iv7 total estimated net price of attendance equal to the sum of the annual estimated net price of attendance for each year described in clause 7iii72 7,c7 with respect to calculating net price estimates as required by subparagraph 7,b7-- 7i7 determines an estimated annual percentage change for each year for which a net price calculation is made1 based on the annual percentage change in an institution's or program's required costs and other costs under section #dgb7;a71 as applicable1 for the most recent three-year period for which such data are reported2 7ii7 provides the individual with the option to replace the estimated annual percentage change described in clause 7i7 with an alternative annual percentage change specified by the individual2 7iii7 in the case of an institution that offers a multi-year tuition or net price guarantee program1 allow the individual to have net price estimates calculated based on the provisions of such guarantee program2 and 7iv7 uses the individual's information1 based on-- 7,i7 the single set of questions developed by the ,secretary in accordance with paragraph 7#b72 7,,ii7 the student-level data elements reported by institutions in accordance with section #ffh4djh of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 7,,iii7 in the case of an individual who submits a ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid described in section #dhc1 the contents of such application2 and 7,,iv7 any additional information provided by the individual with respect to the individual's grant and scholarship aid2 7,d7 includes a method for users to easily compare institutions and programs2 and 7,e7 provides access to information in an electronic and downloadable format4 7#b7 ,development of input questions ,the ,secretary shall develop a single set of questions for purposes of capturing the information specified in subsection 7b77#b74 7#c7 ,updates 7,a7 ,data ,the ,secretary shall update the data on the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator ,website1 as required under this subsection1 not less than annually4 7,b7 ,technology and format ,the ,secretary shall regularly assess the format and technology of the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator website and make any changes or updates that the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7#d7 ,integration with other ,federal financial aid resources ,in accordance with subsection 7d77#e7 of section #dhc1 the ,secretary shall ensure that a website link or other means of accessing the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator is included on the ,,fafsa website 7or similar successor website74 7#e7 ,interagency coordination ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with each appropriate head of a department or agency of the ,federal ,government1 shall ensure1 to the greatest extent practicable1 that any information related to higher education that is published by such department or agency is consistent with the information published on the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator website4 7#f7 ,consumer testing ,in developing and maintaining the ,college ,scorecard website and the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator website1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with each appropriate head of each appropriate department and agency of the ,federal ,government shall-- 7,a7 not later than #f months after the date of the effective date of this subsection1 and not less than once every #d years thereafter1 conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons1 including current and prospective college students1 family members of such students1 institutions of higher education1 and experts1 to-- 7i7 improve the usefulness and relevance of the ,college ,scorecard website1 with respect to the presentation of the consumer information collected pursuant to subsection 7b72 and 7ii7 ensure that the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator website is usable and easily understandable and provides useful and relevant information to students and families2 and 7,b7 display prominently on such websites in simple1 understandable1 and unbiased terms for the most recent academic year for which satisfactory data is available1 the categories of information described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of subsection 7b7 and paragraph 7#a77;,b7 of this subsection that were determined to be useful and relevant to students and families based on the consumer testing described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#g7 ,use of net price calculator by institutions ,not later than two years after the date on which the ,secretary makes the calculator developed under paragraph 7#a7 available to institutions of higher education1 each institution of higher education that receives ,federal funds under title ,,iv shall make publicly available on the institution's website a net price calculator to provide to current and prospective students1 families1 and other consumers a student's individual net price estimates at such institution of higher education4 ,such calculator may be a net price calculator developed-- 7,a7 by the ,department pursuant to paragraph 7#a72 or 7,b7 by the institution of higher education1 if the institution's calculator includes1 at a minimum1 the same data elements included in the calculator developed under paragraph 7#a74 7#h7 ,notice ,a net price estimate calculated for an individual using the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator under this subsection shall be accompanied by a clear and conspicuous notice-- 7,a7 stating that the estimate-- 7i7 does not represent a final determination1 or actual award1 of financial assistance2 7ii7 shall not be binding on the ,secretary1 an institution of higher education1 or a ,state2 and 7iii7 may change2 7,b7 stating that an individual must complete the ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid described in section #dhc in order to be eligible for1 and receive1 an actual financial aid award that includes ,federal grant1 loan1 or work-study assistance under title ,,iv2 7,c7 including a link to the website of the ,department that allows individuals to access the ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid described in section #dhc2 and 7,d7 explaining that the net price estimate calculated for an individual using the ,universal ,net ,price ,calculator under this subsection may differ from the net price calculated for such individual using an institution's net price calculator due to differences in data or methodology4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #acb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajae;a7 is further amended by redesignating subsections 7k7 and 7l7 as subsections 7d7 and 7e71 respectively4 #c4 ,other amendments 7a7 ,cost of attendance of a program of study 7#a7 ,determination of cost of attendance of a program of study 7,a7 ,in general ,section #dgb7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgll7a77 is amended-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking carrying the same academic workload and inserting enrolled in the same program of study and carrying the same academic workload2 7ii7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking same course of study and inserting same program of study2 and 7iii7 in paragraph 7#ad71 by striking program and inserting program of study4 7#b7 ,disclosure ,section #dgb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgll7c77 is amended-- 7,a7 by inserting of each program of study at the institution after cost of attendance2 and 7,b7 by striking of the institution and inserting of such programs of study at the institution4 7b7 ,program of study defined ,section #ajc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#ae7 through 7#bd7 as paragraphs 7#af7 through 7#be71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#ad7 the following new paragraph3 7#ae7 ,program of study defined 7,a7 ,in general ,the term program of study-- 7i7 means an eligible program at an institution of higher education that is classified by a combination of-- 7,i7 one or more ,,cip codes2 and 7,,ii7 one credential level1 determined by the credential awarded upon completion of the program2 and 7ii7 does not include a program of study abroad4 7,b7 ,cip code ,the term ,,cip code means the six-digit taxonomic identification code assigned by an institution of higher education to a specific program of study at the institution1 determined by the institution of higher education in accordance with the ,classification of ,instructional ,programs published by the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics4 7,c7 ,credential level 7i7 ,in general ,the term credential level means the level of the degree or other credential awarded by an institution of higher education to students who complete a program of study of the institution4 ,each degree or other credential awarded by an institution shall be categorized by the institution as either undergraduate credential level or graduate credential level4 7ii7 ,undergraduate credential ,when used with respect to a credential or credential level1 the term undergraduate credential includes credentials such as an undergraduate certificate1 an associate degree1 a bachelor's degree1 and a post-baccalaureate certificate 7including the coursework specified in paragraphs 7#c77;,b7 and 7#d77;,b7 of section #dhd7;b774 7iii7 ,graduate credential ,when used with respect to a credential or credential level1 the term graduate credential includes credentials such as a master's degree1 a doctoral degree1 a professional degree 7as defined under section #ffh4b of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations71 and a postgraduate certificate4 4 7c7 ,elimination of early estimator tool ,paragraph 7#d7 of section #dhe;,e7b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajib;f7b77 is repealed4 7d7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,higher ,education ,act of #aife ,the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq471 as amended by this ,act1 is further amended-- 7,a7 by striking ,college ,navigator each place it appears and inserting ,college ,scorecard2 and 7,b7 in the header of section #dhg7;d77#c71 by striking 8college navigator0 and inserting 8college scorecard04 7#b7 ,other references ,any reference in any law 7other than the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq4771 regulation1 document1 record1 or other paper of the ,united ,states to the ,college ,navigator website shall be considered to be a reference to the ,college ,scorecard website4 #d4 ,effective date ,this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act shall take effect on ,july #a1 #bjbg1 and shall apply with respect to award year #bjbg-bjbh and each subsequent award year1 as determined under the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 ,january #ba1 #bjbf ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed