A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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 Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026 allows the Secretary of Education to provide competitive grants to specific educational entities. These grants aim to increase the participation, retention, and completion rates of high-need students using evidence-based programs. The bill defines high-need students to include groups such as low-income, first-generation, and military-connected students. It also sets aside specific funding for eligible Indian entities.
Yes· 3 of 28
- Scored +9
Would students be better off under this?
Broadly provides tutoring, financial aid, and career support for postsecondary students.
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Specifically targets low-income students for financial and academic support.
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Includes a specific 2% fund reservation for Tribal Colleges and Universities.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes new government spending via competitive grants.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases government spending through the creation of a new grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for High-Need Students: The bill provides services for students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation students, caregivers, students with disabilities, justice-impacted students, and military-connected students to help them succeed in school (Section 3).
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Direct Student Assistance: Grant funds can be used for tutoring, academic supports, enrichment services, and emergency financial assistance (Section 5(e)(2)).
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Career Preparation: Students may benefit from career coaching, networking, work-based learning, and help obtaining skills for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs (Section 5(e)(3)).
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Increased Academic Opportunities: The bill supports accelerated learning through dual or concurrent enrollment and early college high school programs (Section 5(c)(6)(B)).
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Dedicated Funding for Tribal Colleges: The Secretary must reserve 2 percent of total funds specifically for eligible Indian entities to help their high-need students (Section 4).
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Comprehensive Student Services: Funding can be used for mentoring, advising, case management, and peer counseling (Section 5(c)(6)(A) and Section 5(e)(1)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Access for Branch Campuses: Entities with branch campuses are restricted to receiving a grant for only one campus at a time, which may limit the number of students who can benefit from the funds (Section 5(h)).
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Competitive Nature of Grants: Because grants are awarded on a competitive basis, many eligible entities and the students they serve may not receive any funding (Section 5(a)).
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? — Broadly provides tutoring, financial aid, and career support for postsecondary students. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Specifically targets low-income students for financial and academic support. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Includes a specific 2% fund reservation for Tribal Colleges and Universities. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Students with disabilities are explicitly listed as eligible high-need students. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Military-connected students are explicitly categorized as high-need for these services. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Directly supports postsecondary students with tutoring, financial aid, and career coaching. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Targets high-need populations often disproportionately represented in low-income brackets. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targets high-need populations often disproportionately represented in low-income brackets. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly supports Tribal Colleges and rural public institutions. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Supports reentering justice-impacted students and caregivers who may be older adults. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Public institutions in urban areas often serve high concentrations of high-need students. Would women be better off under this? — Supports caregiver students, a group that disproportionately includes women. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits high-need students within this demographic. Would immigrants be better off under this? — First-generation and low-income supports may benefit immigrant students. Would men be better off under this? — Benefits high-need students and reentering justice-impacted individuals. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Benefits high-need students within this demographic.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Students with disabilities are explicitly defined as high-need students eligible for support. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill specifically targets high-need students and reserves funding for Tribal Colleges. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By helping low-income students complete degrees, the bill promotes long-term poverty reduction. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Emergency financial assistance for high-need students can help prevent homelessness.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Provides emergency financial assistance and support services to high-need college students. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides funds for research and evaluation of evidence-based student success programs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill explicitly identifies military-connected students as high-need students for support.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Increasing postsecondary completion rates for high-need students generally improves long-term economic productivity. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds career preparation and skills development for high-skill, high-wage occupations. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases government spending through the creation of a new grant program. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes new government spending via competitive grants.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Targeted funding for Tribal Colleges supports educational infrastructure in rural and indigenous areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the Department of Education's authority to award competitive grants.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Funding allows for peer counseling and student services that may include mental health support.
- 6/11/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware