A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 395.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency regarding college tuition and costs for consumers. It directs the Secretary to update the College Scorecard website with detailed information on institutions and specific programs of study. This includes data on required costs, financial aid, student debt, and student earnings. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a Universal Net Price Calculator to provide estimated costs to prospective students. The legislation also updates definitions for the cost of attendance and programs of study to ensure clearer reporting.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
Students benefit from highly detailed information regarding tuition, debt, and future earnings for specific programs.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates much more detailed and disaggregated reporting of college costs, debt, and earnings on a public website.
- Scored +4
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Prospective students will have better tools to estimate the true cost of their chosen programs of study.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Students and Families: The bill requires the Secretary to make detailed information available on the College Scorecard website, such as required costs, grant and scholarship aid, student debt, and earnings (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Improved Cost Estimations: The establishment of a Universal Net Price Calculator will allow individuals to receive estimated annual net prices for specific institutions and programs of study (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Better Comparison of Schools: The mandate ensures that the College Scorecard website includes a method for users to easily compare different institutions and programs based on various data points (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Detailed Demographic Data: Information will be disaggregated by characteristics such as sex, race, ethnicity, and financial circumstances, providing a clearer picture of how different groups experience costs (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Clarity on Program Completion: The bill provides specific definitions for "program length" and "time to credential," which helps students understand the actual time required to finish a degree (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Estimates Are Not Guarantees: The bill notes that net price estimates provided by the Universal Net Price Calculator do not represent a final determination or actual award of financial assistance and may change (Section 2(c)(8)).
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Potential Differences in Data: The bill warns that an individual's estimate from the Universal Net Price Calculator may differ from the estimate provided by an institution's own calculator due to differences in data or methodology (Section 2(c)(8)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Students benefit from highly detailed information regarding tuition, debt, and future earnings for specific programs. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Prospective students will have better tools to estimate the true cost of their chosen programs of study. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Detailed reporting on grant and scholarship aid helps low-income families assess affordability. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The Universal Net Price Calculator provides clearer financial planning tools for middle-income families. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Disaggregated data on costs and debt can highlight and address racial disparities in higher education. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Increased data transparency assists all demographic groups in making informed financial decisions. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The transparency requirements help Hispanic students navigate the financial realities of different programs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates much more detailed and disaggregated reporting of college costs, debt, and earnings on a public website.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill increases transparency regarding actual net prices and required costs through a Universal Net Price Calculator.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill requires disaggregating college cost and debt data by race and ethnicity to identify disparities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Providing clearer cost and earnings data may help students make more productive educational investments.
- 1/21/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-461.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 395.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/11/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 6.
- 12/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Donald NorcrossDemocrat · New Jersey
Robert OnderRepublican · Missouri
Lori TrahanDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia