A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
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
This bill, titled the "Fair College Admissions for Students Act," aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. It would prohibit institutions of higher education that participate in Federal student assistance programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to certain applicants. Specifically, it targets preferences based on relationships to donors or alumni. The rule would take effect on the first day of the second award year beginning after the bill is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Removing donor and alumni preferences helps level the playing field for students from households without significant institutional connections.
- Scored +4
Would students be better off under this?
The act focuses on making the admissions process fairer for all applicants by removing preferential treatment based on connections.
- Scored +3
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill creates a more meritocratic admissions process for young adults applying to higher education.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would high-income households be better off under this?
The bill eliminates the specific admissions advantages often utilized by high-income families with donor or alumni status.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Removal of preferential treatment: The bill prohibits institutions from providing any manner of preference in the admission process based on an applicant's relationship to donors or alumni (Section 2(a)). This could benefit students who do not have those specific connections by creating a more level playing field in admissions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts mentioned: The provided text does not contain any information regarding potential negative consequences or burdens resulting from this bill.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — Removing donor and alumni preferences helps level the playing field for students from households without significant institutional connections. Would students be better off under this? — The act focuses on making the admissions process fairer for all applicants by removing preferential treatment based on connections. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Ending legacy preferences can help mitigate racial disparities often perpetuated by wealth-based admissions advantages. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill creates a more meritocratic admissions process for young adults applying to higher education. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill reduces the admissions advantage held by the extremely wealthy donor class. Would high-income households be better off under this? — The bill eliminates the specific admissions advantages often utilized by high-income families with donor or alumni status.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By removing legacy and donor preferences, the bill may help reduce systemic barriers that often favor wealthier, disproportionately white demographics in college admissions. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill promotes social mobility by reducing the admissions advantage held by those from wealthier, donor-connected families.
- 3/19/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 3/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 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.
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California