A bill from an independent · See all 11 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The College for All Act of 2025 seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate tuition and required fees for many students. It establishes a Federal-State partnership to provide grants to States and Tribal Colleges and Universities to cover these costs. The bill also includes a grant program specifically for private nonprofit historically Black colleges, minority-serving institutions, and outlying areas. Additionally, it implements improvements to Federal Pell Grants and creates inclusive student success grants. The legislation aims to increase support for low-income, first-generation, and Dreamer students.
Yes· 3 of 16
- Scored +10
Would students be better off under this?
The bill aims to eliminate tuition and fees for a wide range of students.
- Scored +10
Does this make college cost less?
The bill creates a Federal-State partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees for many students.
- Scored +9
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides significant financial relief for low-income students and their families.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill imposes several requirements and matching fund obligations on state governments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Elimination of Tuition and Fees: Eligible students at community colleges, public 4-year institutions, and Tribal Colleges can have their tuition and required fees fully eliminated through Federal-State partnerships (Sec. 785, Sec. 787).
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Support for Minority-Serving Institutions: Private nonprofit historically Black colleges and minority-serving institutions can receive grants to eliminate tuition and fees for eligible students (Sec. 201, Sec. 796).
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College Access for Outlying Areas: Students in the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Freely Associated States can receive grants to cover the difference between in-State and out-of-State tuition rates (Sec. 202, Sec. 799).
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Improved Pell Grant Benefits: The maximum Federal Pell Grant amount is increased, and funds may now be used for living and nontuition expenses (Sec. 301).
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Expanded Eligibility for Dreamer Students: Dreamer students are explicitly included as eligible for Federal Pell Grants (Sec. 301).
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Inclusive Student Success Grants: States and Tribal Colleges can receive funds to implement evidence-based reforms, such as providing academic support, mental health counseling, and improved transfer pathways (Sec. 401, Sec. 804).
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Increased Federal Support for Programs: The bill increases authorization of appropriations for Federal TRIO and Gear Up programs (Sec. 501).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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State Financial Burdens: States are required to provide a "State share" of the grant, which increases over time from 0 percent in 2026-2027 to 20 percent in 2030-2031 (Sec. 786).
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Maintenance of Effort Requirements: States must maintain specific levels of spending on instruction, operating expenses, and need-based financial aid, which could place strict budgetary constraints on state governments (Sec. 787).
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Restrictions on Fund Usage: Grant funds cannot be used for certain purposes such as the construction of nonacademic facilities, paying administrator salaries, or capital outlays (Sec. 790, Sec. 797).
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? — The bill aims to eliminate tuition and fees for a wide range of students. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides significant financial relief for low-income students and their families. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill increases support specifically for historically Black colleges and universities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides significant support for Tribal Colleges and Universities. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill explicitly expands Pell Grant eligibility to include Dreamer students. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill significantly lowers barriers to college entry for young adults. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander-serving institutions. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides funding for Hispanic-serving institutions. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill includes tuition elimination for middle-class students under certain income thresholds. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill mandates specific staffing requirements for disability services.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides significant funding and tuition elimination for HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill reduces the financial burden of higher education for low-income students. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill requires states to maintain specific staffing ratios for disability services.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill creates a Federal-State partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees for many students.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal involvement in higher education via grants and requirements. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill imposes several requirements and matching fund obligations on state governments.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill provides funds for mental health counseling through inclusive student success grants.
- 2/25/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts