H.R.3153 - Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3153, the "Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025," aims to standardize financial aid offer forms from institutions of higher education. This standardization seeks to provide students and their families with clear, comparable information about college costs and available aid. The bill mandates the Secretary of Education to develop a standard form and terminology in consultation with various stakeholders, including students, institutions, and consumer groups.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to make financial aid offers more transparent and easier to understand for students. By requiring a standard format, students can more easily compare offers from different institutions. This should lead to more informed decisions about college attendance and financing.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in financial aid offers, allowing students to make informed decisions.
- Standardized terminology and format for easier comparison of offers from different institutions.
- Clearer understanding of direct and indirect costs associated with college attendance.
- Improved disclosure of grant and scholarship aid versus loan obligations.
- Enhanced consumer protection through mandated disclosures and links to relevant resources.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential administrative burden on institutions of higher education to comply with the new requirements.
- Possible delays in the financial aid offer process during the initial implementation phase.
- Risk that the standardized form may not fully capture the nuances of individual institutional aid packages.
- The effectiveness of the bill depends heavily on the quality of the standard form developed by the Secretary of Education.
- Some institutions might perceive the standardization as an infringement on their autonomy.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by promoting informed decision-making in education. Congress has the power to regulate activities that substantially affect interstate commerce, and higher education certainly falls under this purview. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).