U.S. Representatives Krishnamoorthi, Wilson, Bonamici, Mace, And Sherrill Reintroduce The Bipartisan, Bicameral College Transparency Act To Improve The Information Available To American Families On Higher Education Opportunities

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) reintroduced the College Transparency Act (CTA), which ensures that students and families have better information as they consider higher education opportunities. The CTA modernizes the college reporting system for postsecondary data by providing accurate reporting on student outcomes such as enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across colleges and majors, while ensuring the privacy of individual students is securely protected.

This information will give students a clear understanding of the return on investment in higher education and help them to make better decisions as to which schools and programs of study are best suited to their unique needs and desired outcomes. It will also promote better outcomes by aiding institutions of learning and policymakers in their work to improve our country's post-secondary education system and assist businesses and other employers in finding potential employees best suited for a particular field. The current college reporting system is overly burdensome on institutions yet provides little practical information for students and families due to significant gaps in college data reporting. Under the updated system, institutions would securely report privacy-protected, student-level data to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES would be responsible for securely storing student information, working with relevant federal agencies to generate post-college outcomes reports, and presenting the summary information on a user-friendly website for students and families. The Senate companion to the bill was reintroduced today by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and 12 colleagues.

"Higher education is one of the biggest investments American families make, and they need the best available information to be able to make informed decisions as they shop for the best educational programs for them," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "I'm proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan College Transparency Act to ensure students and families have more complete information about college access, success, costs, and outcomes by providing them with a secure operational student-level data system. When families and students have the information they need to make the right choices for their futures, they are also able to make the right choices for our country's future."

"Students and parents should have every tool when making the decision on a college or university," Congressman Wilson said. "I am grateful to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill that provides important data to assist with this life-changing decision."

"Students and families need good information to make the right decisions. Unfortunately, the current lack of student-level data from institutions of higher education hampers the decision-making ability of students and families when choosing a college," said Congresswoman Bonamici. "It also makes it harder for lawmakers to craft policies that affect our education system. I'm glad to join Rep. Krishnamoorthi in introducing the College Transparency Act to allow this data to be gathered and analyzed while maintaining student privacy and data security."

"The lack of transparency currently in the higher education system is unacceptable," said Congresswoman Mace. "The College Transparency Act will provide students and families with the information they need to make informed decisions about their education. It will also empower policymakers and institutions to craft evidence-based policies which support student success. By streamlining reporting requirements and protecting students' privacy, the bill will create a secure and accessible database of student outcomes across colleges and programs, ensuring we are maximizing opportunities for our kids in education."

"Higher education is a key pathway to the middle class for millions of Americans. But all too often, students and families don't have access to the information they need to make an informed choice about which institution is best for them," said Congresswoman Sherrill. "This legislation, which I am proud to co-lead, takes critical steps to increase transparency on students' success post-graduation. In doing so, the bill will help to prevent students from being taken advantage of, accumulating significant student debt, and leaving with a less valuable degree."

"We thank the bipartisan sponsors in the House and Senate for the reintroduction of the College Transparency Act. Pursuing a college education can be a significant investment for students and their families and this legislation would empower them to make better-informed decisions on which institutions and programs to attend," said Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Mark Becker. "APLU, the public university community, and many others have called on Congress to lift the ban on student-level data and count all students' outcomes. The College Transparency Act would enable comprehensive reporting on graduation outcomes, enhance institutional efforts to increase student success, and provide policymakers with key data on student populations such as veterans. We urge Congress to take up this common-sense legislation and provide students and their families critical data for making informed higher education choices. Giving students and their families access to the information they need on higher education is a no-brainer."

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauds the introduction of the bipartisan College Transparency Act. The legislation is as a way to ensure students have access to accurate information on college affordability, employment outcomes, and income data of postsecondary education programs. Providing this transparency will help better match students with careers by allowing them to find and attend programs that not only interest them, but also meet employer needs. Ultimately this will help narrow the skills gap, bolster our country's competitiveness, and make our economy stronger," said Allison L. Dembeck, Vice President of Education and Labor Advocacy at the U.S Chamber of Commerce.

"Deciding where to go to college, what to study, and how much to pay is one of the most important decisions of a student's life. The College Transparency Act will ensure students can make this decision knowing which programs and institutions align with their circumstances and goals and offer a valuable degree or credential," said Mamie Voight, President, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP). "By strengthening, streamlining, and modernizing our postsecondary data system, all while protecting student privacy, institutions can deliver stronger outcomes for today's students, policymakers at all levels can build a more equitable higher education system, and employers can build a stronger, more dynamic workforce. This bill is a win for students, families, employers, policymakers, and society as a whole."

"AAU fully supports the College Transparency Act. It will allow students and families to make smart, well-informed decisions about their educational and financial future by giving them access to accurate information on measures such as cost, enrollment, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings across different institutions and degree programs," said Barbara Snyder, President, Association of American Universities. "Comprehensive postsecondary data will also help the higher education community, Congress, and the federal government work together to develop targeted policies that boost student success and improve college access and affordability. America's leading research universities provide life-changing education to Americans from all walks of life; the CTA will enable our members to identify areas of improvement and help serve our students and the American public even better."

"We cannot afford to continue a system where students and families aren't able to determine the value of a college education," said Rachel Fishman, acting director, New America's Higher Education Program. "With the College Transparency Act, we have an opportunity to provide transparency and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their future. CTA would ensure that students are equipped with the data they need to make a college decision that makes the most sense for them."

Click here for a one-page summary of the bill.

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