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[House Report 114-674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

114th Congress   }                                       {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session      }                                       {     114-674

======================================================================

 
           STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

                                _______
                                

 July 11, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Kline, from the Committee on Education and the Workforce, submitted 
                             the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3178]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Education and the Workforce, to whom was 
referred the bill (H.R. 3178) to simplify and streamline the 
information regarding institutions of higher education made 
publicly available by the Secretary of Education, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do 
pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Transparency in Higher 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE.

  (a) Establishment.--Section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1015a) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``first-time,'';
                  (B) in paragraph (3) in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``first-time,''; and
                  (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``first-time,'';
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``first-time,''; 
                and
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``first-time,'';
          (3) by striking subsections (c) through (g), (j), and (l);
          (4) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (k) as 
        subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
          (5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesignated) and 
        inserting the following new subsection:
  ``(d) Consumer Information.--
          ``(1) Availability of title iv institution information.--The 
        Secretary shall develop and make publicly available a website 
        to be known as the `College Dashboard website' in accordance 
        with this section and prominently display on such website, in 
        simple, understandable, and unbiased terms for the most recent 
        academic year for which satisfactory data are available, the 
        following information with respect to each institution of 
        higher education that participates in a program under title IV:
                  ``(A) A link to the website of the institution.
                  ``(B) An identification of the type of institution as 
                one of the following:
                          ``(i) A four-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                          ``(ii) A four-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          ``(iii) A four-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          ``(iv) A two-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                          ``(v) A two-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          ``(vi) A two-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          ``(vii) A less than two-year public 
                        institution of higher education.
                          ``(viii) A less than two-year private, 
                        nonprofit institution of higher education.
                          ``(ix) A less than two-year private, for-
                        profit institution of higher education.
                  ``(C) The number of students enrolled at the 
                institution--
                          ``(i) as undergraduate students; and
                          ``(ii) as graduate students, if applicable.
                  ``(D) The student-faculty ratio.
                  ``(E) The percentage of degree-seeking or 
                certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 
                the institution who obtain a degree or certificate 
                within--
                          ``(i) 100 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of, or graduation from, the program 
                        in which the student is enrolled;
                          ``(ii) 150 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of, or graduation from, the program 
                        in which the student is enrolled; and
                          ``(iii) 200 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of, or graduation from, the program 
                        in which the student is enrolled.
                  ``(F) The average net price per year for 
                undergraduate students receiving Federal student 
                financial aid under title IV based on an income 
                category selected by the user from a list containing 
                the following income categories:
                          ``(i) $0 to $30,000.
                          ``(ii) $30,001 to $48,000.
                          ``(iii) $48,001 to $75,000.
                          ``(iv) $75,001 to $110,000.
                          ``(v) $110,001 to $150,000.
                          ``(vi) Over $150,000.
                  ``(G) A link to the net price calculator for such 
                institution.
                  ``(H) The percentage of undergraduate students who 
                obtained a certificate or degree from the institution 
                who borrowed Federal student loans under title IV, and 
                the average Federal student loan debt incurred by an 
                undergraduate student who obtained a certificate or 
                degree from the institution and borrowed Federal 
                student loans under title IV in the course of obtaining 
                such certificate or degree.
                  ``(I) A link to national and regional data from the 
                Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting salaries in all 
                major occupations.
                  ``(J) A link to the webpage of the institution 
                containing campus safety data with respect to such 
                institution.
          ``(2) Other information.--The Secretary shall publish on 
        Internet webpages that are linked to through the College 
        Dashboard website for the most recent academic year for which 
        satisfactory data is available the following information with 
        respect to each institution of higher education that 
        participates in a program under title IV:
                  ``(A) Enrollment.--
                          ``(i) The percentages of male and female 
                        undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                        institution.
                          ``(ii) The percentages of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution--
                                  ``(I) full-time; and
                                  ``(II) less than full-time.
                          ``(iii) In the case of an institution other 
                        than an institution that provides all courses 
                        and programs through distance education, of the 
                        undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                        institution--
                                  ``(I) the percentage of such students 
                                who are from the State in which the 
                                institution is located;
                                  ``(II) the percentage of such 
                                students who are from other States; and
                                  ``(III) the percentage of such 
                                students who are international 
                                students.
                          ``(iv) The percentages of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution, 
                        disaggregated by--
                                  ``(I) race and ethnic background;
                                  ``(II) classification as a student 
                                with a disability;
                                  ``(III) recipients of a Federal Pell 
                                Grant;
                                  ``(IV) recipients of assistance under 
                                a tuition assistance program conducted 
                                by the Department of Defense under 
                                section 1784a or 2007 of title 10, 
                                United States Code, or other 
                                authorities available to the Department 
                                of Defense or veterans' education 
                                benefits (as defined in section 480); 
                                and
                                  ``(V) recipients of a Federal student 
                                loan under title IV.
                  ``(B) Completion.--The information required under 
                paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated by--
                          ``(i) recipients of a Federal Pell Grant;
                          ``(ii) recipients of a loan made under part D 
                        of title IV (other than a Federal Direct 
                        Unsubsidized Stafford Loan) who did not receive 
                        a Federal Pell Grant;
                          ``(iii) individuals who did not receive a 
                        Federal Pell Grant or a loan made under part D 
                        of title IV (other than a Federal Direct 
                        Unsubsidized Stafford Loan);
                          ``(iv) race and ethnic background;
                          ``(v) classification as a student with a 
                        disability; and
                          ``(vi) recipients of assistance under a 
                        tuition assistance program conducted by the 
                        Department of Defense under section 1784a or 
                        2007 of title 10, United States Code, or other 
                        authorities available to the Department of 
                        Defense or veterans' education benefits (as 
                        defined in section 480).
                  ``(C) Costs.--
                          ``(i) The cost of attendance for full-time 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution who live on campus.
                          ``(ii) The cost of attendance for full-time 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution who live off campus.
                          ``(iii) The cost of tuition and fees for 
                        full-time undergraduate students enrolled in 
                        the institution.
                          ``(iv) The cost of tuition and fees per 
                        credit hour or credit hour equivalency for 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution less than full time.
                          ``(v) In the case of a public institution of 
                        higher education (other than an institution 
                        described in clause (vi)) and notwithstanding 
                        subsection (b)(1), the costs described in 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) for--
                                  ``(I) full-time students enrolled in 
                                the institution who are residents of 
                                the State in which the institution is 
                                located; and
                                  ``(II) full-time students enrolled in 
                                the institution who are not residents 
                                of such State.
                          ``(vi) In the case of a public institution of 
                        higher education that offers different tuition 
                        rates for students who are residents of a 
                        geographic subdivision smaller than a State and 
                        students not located in such geographic 
                        subdivision and notwithstanding subsection 
                        (b)(1), the costs described in clauses (i) and 
                        (ii) for--
                                  ``(I) full-time students enrolled at 
                                the institution who are residents of 
                                such geographic subdivision;
                                  ``(II) full-time students enrolled at 
                                the institution who are residents of 
                                the State in which the institution is 
                                located but not residents of such 
                                geographic subdivision; and
                                  ``(III) full-time students enrolled 
                                at the institution who are not 
                                residents of such State.
                  ``(D) Financial aid.--
                          ``(i) The average annual grant amount 
                        (including Federal, State, and institutional 
                        aid) awarded to an undergraduate student 
                        enrolled at the institution who receives 
                        financial aid.
                          ``(ii) The percentage of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution receiving 
                        Federal, State, and institutional grants, 
                        student loans, and any other type of student 
                        financial assistance known by the institution, 
                        provided publicly or through the institution, 
                        such as Federal work-study funds.
                          ``(iii) The cohort default rate (as defined 
                        in section 435(m)) for such institution.
                  ``(E) Faculty information.--
                          ``(i) The ratio of the number of course 
                        sections taught by part-time instructors to the 
                        number of course sections taught by full-time 
                        faculty, disaggregated by course sections 
                        intended primarily for undergraduate students 
                        and course sections intended primarily for 
                        graduate students.
                          ``(ii) The mean and median years of 
                        employment for part-time instructors.
          ``(3) Other data matters.--
                  ``(A) Completion data.--The Commissioner of Education 
                Statistics shall ensure that the information required 
                under paragraph (1)(E) includes information with 
                respect to all students at an institution, including 
                students other than first-time, full-time students and 
                students who transfer to another institution, in a 
                manner that the Commissioner considers appropriate.
                  ``(B) Adjustment of income categories.--The Secretary 
                may annually adjust the range of each of the income 
                categories described in paragraph (1)(F) to account for 
                a change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
                Consumers as determined by the Bureau of Labor 
                Statistics if the Secretary determines an adjustment is 
                necessary.
          ``(4) Institutional comparison.--The Secretary shall include 
        on the College Dashboard website a method for users to easily 
        compare the information required under paragraphs (1) and (2) 
        between institutions.
          ``(5) Updates.--
                  ``(A) Data.--The Secretary shall update the College 
                Dashboard website not less than annually.
                  ``(B) Technology and format.--The Secretary shall 
                regularly assess the format and technology of the 
                College Dashboard website and make any changes or 
                updates that the Secretary considers appropriate.
          ``(6) Consumer testing.--
                  ``(A) In general.--In developing and maintaining the 
                College Dashboard website, the Secretary, in 
                consultation with appropriate departments and agencies 
                of the Federal Government, shall conduct consumer 
                testing with appropriate persons, including current and 
                prospective college students, family members of such 
                students, institutions of higher education, and 
                experts, to ensure that the College Dashboard website 
                is usable and easily understandable and provides useful 
                and relevant information to students and families.
                  ``(B) Recommendations for changes.--The Secretary 
                shall submit to the authorizing committees any 
                recommendations that the Secretary considers 
                appropriate for changing the information required to be 
                provided on the College Dashboard website under 
                paragraphs (1) and (2) based on the results of the 
                consumer testing conducted under subparagraph (A).
          ``(7) Provision of appropriate links to prospective students 
        after submission of fafsa.--The Secretary shall provide to each 
        student who submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
        described in section 483 a link to the webpage of the College 
        Dashboard website that contains the information required under 
        paragraph (1) for each institution of higher education such 
        student includes on such Application.
          ``(8) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary, in 
        consultation with each appropriate head of a department or 
        agency of the Federal Government, shall ensure to the greatest 
        extent practicable that any information related to higher 
        education that is published by such department or agency is 
        consistent with the information published on the College 
        Dashboard website.
          ``(9) References to college navigator website.--Any reference 
        in this Act to the College Navigator website shall be 
        considered a reference to the College Dashboard website.''.
  (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is 
further amended--
          (1) in section 131(h) (20 U.S.C. 1015(h)), by striking 
        ``College Navigator'' and inserting ``College Dashboard''; and
          (2) in section 132(a) (20 U.S.C. 1015a(a)), by striking 
        paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph:
          ``(1) College dashboard website.--The term `College Dashboard 
        website' means the College Dashboard website required under 
        subsection (d).''.
  (c) Development.--The Secretary of Education shall develop and 
publish the College Dashboard website required under section 132 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as amended by 
subsections (a) and (b) of this section, not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
  (d) College Navigator Website Maintenance.--The Secretary shall 
maintain the College Navigator website required under section 132 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as in effect the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act, in the manner 
required under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on such 
day, until the College Dashboard website referred to in subsection (c) 
is complete and publicly available on the Internet.

SEC. 3. NET PRICE CALCULATORS.

  Subsection (c) of section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1015a), as redesignated by section 2(a)(4) of this Act, is 
amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and
          (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraphs:
          ``(4) Minimum requirements for net price calculators.--Not 
        later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the 
        Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act, a net price 
        calculator for an institution of higher education shall meet 
        the following requirements:
                  ``(A) The link for the calculator shall--
                          ``(i) be clearly labeled as a net price 
                        calculator and prominently, clearly, and 
                        conspicuously posted in locations on the 
                        website of such institution where information 
                        on costs and aid is provided and any other 
                        location that the institution considers 
                        appropriate; and
                          ``(ii) match in size and font to the other 
                        prominent links on the webpage where the link 
                        for the calculator is displayed.
                  ``(B) The webpage displaying the results for the 
                calculator shall specify at least the following 
                information:
                          ``(i) The net price (as calculated under 
                        subsection (a)(2)) for such institution, which 
                        shall be the most visually prominent figure on 
                        the results screen.
                          ``(ii) Cost of attendance, including--
                                  ``(I) tuition and fees;
                                  ``(II) average annual cost of room 
                                and board for the institution for a 
                                full-time undergraduate student 
                                enrolled in the institution;
                                  ``(III) average annual cost of books 
                                and supplies for a full-time 
                                undergraduate student enrolled in the 
                                institution; and
                                  ``(IV) estimated cost of other 
                                expenses (including personal expenses 
                                and transportation) for a full-time 
                                undergraduate student enrolled in the 
                                institution.
                          ``(iii) Estimated total need-based grant aid 
                        and merit-based grant aid from Federal, State, 
                        and institutional sources that may be available 
                        to a full-time undergraduate student.
                          ``(iv) Percentage of the full-time 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution that received any type of grant aid 
                        described in clause (iii).
                          ``(v) The disclaimer described in paragraph 
                        (6).
                          ``(vi) In the case of a calculator that--
                                  ``(I) includes questions to estimate 
                                the eligibility of a student or 
                                prospective student for veterans' 
                                education benefits (as defined in 
                                section 480) or educational benefits 
                                for active duty service members, such 
                                benefits are displayed on the results 
                                screen in a manner that clearly 
                                distinguishes such benefits from the 
                                grant aid described in clause (iii); or
                                  ``(II) does not include questions to 
                                estimate eligibility for the benefits 
                                described in subclause (I), the results 
                                screen indicates that certain students 
                                (or prospective students) may qualify 
                                for such benefits and includes a link 
                                to information about such benefits.
                  ``(C) The institution shall populate the calculator 
                with data from an academic year that is not more than 2 
                academic years prior to the most recent academic year.
          ``(5) Prohibition on use of data collected by the net price 
        calculator.--A net price calculator for an institution of 
        higher education shall--
                  ``(A) clearly indicate which questions are required 
                to be completed for an estimate of the net price from 
                the calculator;
                  ``(B) in the case of a calculator that requests 
                contact information from users, clearly mark such 
                requests as optional and provide for an estimate of the 
                net price from the calculator without requiring users 
                to enter such information; and
                  ``(C) prohibit any personally identifiable 
                information provided by users from being sold or made 
                available to third parties.''.

SEC. 4. FUNDING.

  (a) Use of Existing Funds.--Of the amount authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the College 
Navigator website, $1,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act 
and the amendments made by this Act.
  (b) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No funds are authorized by this 
Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by 
this Act.

                                Purpose

    H.R. 3178, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher 
Education Act, streamlines and improves the information about 
institutions of higher education made available by the 
Secretary of Education (Secretary) to help students and 
families make more informed decisions about postsecondary 
education options.

                            Committee Action

    As the Committee on Education and the Workforce (Committee) 
continues the Higher Education Act reauthorization process, 
increasing transparency and usefulness of higher education 
data; simplifying and improving the federal student aid 
programs; and promoting innovation, access, and completion 
remain top priorities.

                             112TH CONGRESS

Hearings--First session

    On March 1, 2011, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., on ``Education Regulations: Weighing the 
Burden on Schools and Students.'' The hearing was the first in 
a series examining the burden of federal, state, and local 
regulations on the nation's education system. The purpose of 
the hearing was to uncover the damaging effects of federal 
regulations on schools and institutions. These rules 
increasingly stifle growth and innovation, raise operating 
costs, and limit student access to affordable colleges and 
universities throughout the nation. Testifying before the 
Committee were Dr. Edgar Hatrick, Superintendent, Loudon County 
Public Schools, Ashburn, Virginia; Ms. Kati Haycock, President, 
The Education Trust, Washington, D.C.; Mr. Gene Wilhoit, 
Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers, 
Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Christopher B. Nelson, President, St. 
John's College, Annapolis, Maryland.
    On March 11, 2011, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Education 
Regulations: Federal Overreach into Academic Affairs.'' The 
purpose of the hearing was to discuss the most egregious and 
intrusive pieces of the program integrity regulations issued by 
the U.S. Department of Education, specifically, the state 
authorization regulation and the credit hour regulation, and to 
uncover the unintended consequences of the regulations to 
states and institutions of higher education. Testifying before 
the Subcommittee were Mr. John Ebersole, President, Excelsior 
College, Albany, New York; Dr. G. Blair Dowden, President, 
Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana; The Honorable 
Kathleen Tighe, Inspector General, U.S. Department of 
Education, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Ralph Wolff, President, 
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Alameda, 
California.
    On March 17, 2011, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., on ``Education Regulations: Roadblocks to 
Student Choice in Higher Education.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to explore the harmful consequences of the gainful 
employment regulation issued by the U.S. Department of 
Education. Testifying before the Committee were Ms. Catherine 
Barreto, Graduate, Monroe College, and Senior Sales Associate, 
Doubletree Hotels, Brooklyn, New York; Mr. Travis Jennings, 
Electrical Supervisor of the Manufacturing Launch Systems 
Group, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Chandler, Arizona; Dr. 
Arnold Mitchem, President, Council for Opportunity in 
Education, Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Jeanne Herrmann, Chief 
Operating Officer, Globe University/Minnesota School of 
Business, Woodbury, Minnesota.
    On March 21, 2011, the Committee held a hearing in Wilkes-
Barre, Pennsylvania, on ``Reviving our Economy: The Role of 
Higher Education in Job Growth and Development.'' The purpose 
of the hearing was to highlight work by local colleges and 
universities to respond to local and state economic needs. 
Testifying before the Committee were Mr. James Perry, 
President, Hazelton City Council, Hazelton, Pennsylvania; Mr. 
Jeffrey Alesson, Vice President of Strategic Planning and 
Quality Assurance, Diamond Manufacturing, Exeter, Pennsylvania; 
Dr. Reynold Verret, Provost, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania; Mr. Raymond Angeli, President, Lackawanna 
College, Scranton, Pennsylvania; Ms. Joan Seaman, Executive 
Director, Empire Beauty School, Moosic, Pennsylvania; and Mr. 
Thomas P. Leary, President, Luzerne County Community College, 
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.
    On March 22, 2011, the Committee held a hearing in Utica, 
New York, on ``Reviving our Economy: The Role of Higher 
Education in Job Growth and Development.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to highlight work by local colleges and 
universities to respond to local and state economic needs. 
Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Anthony J. Picente, 
Jr., County Executive, Oneida County, Utica, New York; Mr. Dave 
Mathis, Director, Oneida County Workforce Development, Utica, 
New York; Dr. John Bay, Vice President and Chief Scientist, 
Assured Information Security, Inc., Rome, New York; Dr. Bjong 
Wolf Yeigh, President, State University of New York Institute 
of Technology, Utica, New York; Dr. Ann Marie Murray, 
President, Herkimer County Community College, Herkimer, New 
York; Dr. Judith Kirkpatrick, Provost, Utica College, Utica, 
New York; and Mr. Phil Williams, President, Utica School of 
Commerce, The Business College, Utica, New York.
    On April 21, 2011, the Committee held a hearing in 
Columbia, Tennessee, on ``Reviving our Economy: The Role of 
Higher Education in Job Growth and Development.'' The purpose 
of the hearing was to highlight the work by local colleges and 
universities to respond to local and state economic needs. 
Testifying before the Committee were Dr. Janet Smith, 
President, Columbia State Community College, Columbia, 
Tennessee; Dr. Ted Brown, President, Martin-Methodist College, 
Pulaski, Tennessee; Mr. Jim Coakley, President, Nashville Auto-
Diesel College, Nashville, Tennessee; The Honorable Dean 
Dickey, Mayor, City of Columbia, Columbia, Tennessee; Ms. Susan 
Marlow, President and Chief Executive Officer, Smart Data 
Strategies, Franklin, Tennessee; Ms. Jan McKeel, Executive 
Director, South Central Tennessee Workforce Board, Columbia, 
Tennessee; and Ms. Margaret Prater, Executive Director, 
Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board, Dyersburg, Tennessee.
    On July 8, 2011, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training, together with the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus 
Oversight, and Government Spending, held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., on ``The Gainful Employment Regulation: 
Limiting Job Growth and Student Choice.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to explore the harmful consequences of the gainful 
employment regulation issued by the U.S. Department of 
Education. Testifying before the subcommittees were Dr. Dario 
A. Cortes, President, Berkeley College, New York City, New 
York; Dr. Anthony P. Carnevale, Director, Georgetown University 
Center on Education and the Workforce, Washington, D.C.; Ms. 
Karla Carpenter, Graduate, Herzing University and Program 
Manager, Quest Software, Madison, Wisconsin; and Mr. Harry C. 
Alford, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Black 
Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
    On August 16, 2011, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Greenville, South Carolina, on 
``Reviving Our Economy: The Role of Higher Education in Job 
Growth and Development.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
highlight the work by local colleges and universities to 
respond to local and state economic needs. Testifying before 
the Subcommittee were The Honorable Knox White, Mayor, City of 
Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina; Mr. Werner Eikenbusch, 
Section Manager, Associate Development and Training, BMW 
Manufacturing Co., Spartanburg, South Carolina; Ms. Laura 
Harmon, Project Director, Greenville Works, Greenville, South 
Carolina; Dr. Brenda Thames, Vice President of Academic 
Development, Greenville Health System, Greenville, South 
Carolina; Mr. James F. Barker, President, Clemson University, 
Clemson, South Carolina; Dr. Thomas F. Moore, Chancellor, 
University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, South 
Carolina; Dr. Keith Miller, President, Greenville Technical 
College, Greenville, South Carolina; and Ms. Amy Hickman, 
Campus President, ECPI College of Technology, Greenville, South 
Carolina.
    On October 25, 2011, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Government-
Run Student Loans: Ensuring the Direct Loan Program is 
Accountable to Students and Taxpayers.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to examine the switch to and implementation of the 
Direct Loan program. Testifying before the Subcommittee were 
Mr. James W. Runcie, Chief Operating Officer, Office of Federal 
Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.; 
Mr. Ron H. Day, Director of Financial Aid, Kennesaw State 
University, Kennesaw, Georgia; Ms. Nancy Hoover, Director of 
Financial Aid, Denison University, Granville, Ohio; and Mr. 
Mark. A. Bande, Vice President for Enrollment Management and 
Student Affairs, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas.
    On November 30, 2011, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Discussing Ways Institutions Can 
Streamline Costs and Reduce Tuition.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to highlight innovative practices institutions of 
higher education are implementing to reduce their costs to 
limit tuition increases for students. Testifying before the 
Subcommittee were Ms. Jane V. Wellman, Executive Director, 
Delta Project on Postsecondary Costs, Productivity, and 
Accountability, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Ronald E. Manahan, 
President, Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana; 
Mr. Jamie P. Merisotis, President and Chief Executive Officer, 
Lumina Foundation for Education, Indianapolis, Indiana; and Mr. 
Tim Foster, President, Colorado Mesa University, Grand 
Junction, Colorado.

Legislative action--First session

    On February 17, 2011, the House of Representatives 
considered an amendment offered by Committee Chairman John 
Kline (R-MN), Higher Education and Workforce Training 
Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Rep. Alcee 
Hastings (D-FL) to H.R. 1, the Disaster Relief Appropriations 
Act of 2013. The amendment prohibited the use of funds by the 
U.S. Department of Education to implement and enforce the 
gainful employment regulation. The amendment was agreed to by a 
bipartisan vote of 289 to 136.
    On February 19, 2011, the House of Representatives passed 
H.R. 1 by a vote of 235 to 189. This bill was not signed into 
law.
    On June 3, 2011, Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and 
Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced H.R. 
2117, the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act. 
The bill repealed the state authorization regulation, one piece 
of the credit hour regulation, and prohibited the Secretary 
from defining credit hour for any purpose under the Higher 
Education Act of 1965.
    On June 15, 2011, the Committee considered H.R. 2117 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 27 to 11.
    The Committee considered and adopted the following 
amendment to H.R. 2117:
     Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to add a 
short title to the legislation. The amendment was adopted by 
voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendments 
to H.R. 2117, which were not adopted:
     Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment to 
maintain pieces of the state authorization regulation, 
including the complaint process. The amendment failed by a vote 
of 17 to 22.
     Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) offered an 
amendment to prohibit implementation until the U.S. Department 
of Education Inspector General certifies there are equal or 
greater protections in place related to program integrity under 
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The amendment 
failed by a vote of 17 to 22.
       Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) offered an amendment to 
stipulate the act would be effective only if the maximum Pell 
Grant award is at least $5,550 for the 2012-2013 school year. 
The amendment was ruled out of order.
       Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) offered an amendment to 
strike the repeal of the credit hour regulation that 
establishes a federal definition of a credit hour. The 
amendment failed by a vote of 11 to 27.
       Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) offered an amendment to 
strike the prohibition on the Secretary of Education from 
defining credit hour in the future. The amendment failed by a 
vote of 16 to 22.

Hearings--Second session

    On July 18, 2012, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Exploring State Efforts to Curb Costs.'' 
The purpose of the hearing was to highlight innovative 
practices at the state level to assist postsecondary 
institutions in keeping costs affordable and to promote 
accountability of public funds. Testifying before the 
Subcommittee were Mr. Scott Pattison, Executive Director, 
National Association of State Budget Officers, Washington, 
D.C.; Ms. Teresa Lubbers, Commissioner for Higher Education, 
State of Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mr. Stan Jones, 
President, Complete College America, Zionsville, Indiana; and 
Dr. Joe May, President, Louisiana Community and Technical 
College System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
    On September 20, 2012, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Assessing 
College Data: Helping to Provide Valuable Information to 
Students, Institutions, and Taxpayers.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to examine data collected by the federal government 
from institutions of higher education, including data 
requirements established during the last reauthorization of the 
Higher Education Act. Testifying before the Subcommittee were 
Dr. Mark Schneider, Vice President, American Institutes for 
Research, Washington, D.C.; Dr. James Hallmark, Vice Chancellor 
for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M System, College Station, Texas; 
Dr. Jose Cruz, Vice President for Higher Education Policy and 
Practice, The Education Trust, Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Tracy 
Fitzsimmons, President, Shenandoah University, Winchester, 
Virginia.

Legislative action--Second session

    On February 28, 2012, the House of Representatives passed 
H.R. 2117 by a bipartisan vote of 303 to 114. The bill was sent 
to the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
    On April 25, 2012, Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) introduced H.R. 
4628, the Interest Rate Reduction Act. The bill reduced the 
interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans made to 
undergraduate students from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent for one 
year, from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. To offset the 
increase in mandatory spending, the bill repealed the 
Prevention and Public Health Fund authorized under Section 4002 
of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and rescinded 
the balance of unobligated monies made available for the fund.
    On April 27, 2012, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 
4628 by a vote of 215 to 195.
    While H.R. 4628 was never considered by the Senate, its 
provisions were included in the Conference Report for H.R. 
4348, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act 
(MAP-21), sponsored by Rep. John Mica (R-FL). To partially 
offset the increase in mandatory spending that resulted from 
the temporary reduction in interest rates on subsidized 
Stafford loans, the bill permanently restricted the period of 
eligibility to borrow subsidized Stafford loans to 150 percent 
of the published length of a student's educational program.
    On June 29, 2012, the House of Representatives passed the 
Conference Report to H.R. 4348 by a bipartisan vote of 373 to 
52.
    On June 29, 2012, the Senate passed the Conference Report 
to H.R. 4348 by a bipartisan vote of 74 to 19.
    On July 6, 2012, the President of the United States signed 
H.R. 4348 into law (P.L. 112-141).

                             113TH CONGRESS

Hearings--First session

    On March 13, 2013, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., on ``Keeping College Within Reach: Examining 
Opportunities to Strengthen Federal Student Loan Programs.'' 
The purpose of the hearing was to examine ways to strengthen 
federal student loans, as well as how moving to a market-based 
or variable interest rate on all federal student loans could 
benefit both students and taxpayers. Testifying before the 
Committee were Dr. Deborah J. Lucas, Sloan Distinguished 
Professor of Finance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
Cambridge, Massachusetts; Mr. Jason Delisle, Director, Federal 
Education Budget Project, The New America Foundation, 
Washington, D.C.; Mr. Justin Draeger, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, National Association of Student Financial 
Aid Administrators, Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Charmaine Mercer, 
Vice President of Policy, Alliance for Excellent Education, 
Washington, D.C.
    On April 9, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Monroe, Michigan, entitled 
``Reviving Our Economy: The Role of Higher Education in Job 
Growth and Development.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
highlight work being done by local colleges and universities to 
respond to local and state economic needs. Testifying before 
the Subcommittee were Mr. Henry Lievens, Commissioner, Monroe 
County, Monroe, Michigan; Ms. Lynette Dowler, Plant Director, 
Fossil Generation, DTE Energy, Detroit, Michigan; Ms. Susan 
Smith, Executive Director, Economic Development Partnership of 
Hillsdale County, Jonesville, Michigan; Mr. Dan Fairbanks, 
United Auto Workers International Representative, UAW-GM Skill 
Development and Training Department, Detroit, Michigan; Dr. 
David E. Nixon, President, Monroe County Community College, 
Monroe, Michigan; Sister Peg Albert, OP, Ph.D., President, 
Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan; Dr. Michelle 
Shields, Career Coach/Workforce Development Director, Jackson 
Community College, Jackson, Michigan; and Mr. Douglas A. Levy, 
Director of Financial Aid, Macomb Community College, Warren, 
Michigan.
    On April 16, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: The Role of Federal Student Aid 
Programs.'' The purpose of the hearing was to examine shifting 
the focus of federal student aid programs from enhancing access 
to improving student outcomes. Testifying before the 
Subcommittee were Mr. Terry W. Hartle, Senior Vice President, 
Division of Government and Public Affairs, American Council on 
Education, Washington, D.C.; Ms. Moriah Miles, State Chair, 
Minnesota State University Student Association, Mankato, 
Minnesota; Ms. Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington 
University, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Dan Madzelan, Former 
Employee (Retired), U.S. Department of Education, University 
Park, Maryland.
    On April 24, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Enhancing Transparency for Students, 
Families, and Taxpayers.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
examine ways to improve the information provided by the federal 
government to inform students and families about their 
postsecondary education options. Testifying before the 
Subcommittee were Dr. Donald E. Heller, Dean, College of 
Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; 
Mr. Alex Garrido, Student, Keiser University, Miami, Florida; 
Dr. Nicole Farmer Hurd, Founder and Executive Director, 
National College Advising Corps, Carrboro, North Carolina; and 
Mr. Travis Reindl, Program Director, Postsecondary Education, 
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, 
Washington, D.C.
    On June 13, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Discussing Program Quality through 
Accreditation.'' The purpose of the hearing was to examine the 
historical role of accreditation, discuss the role of regional 
and national accreditors in measuring institutional quality, 
and contemplate areas for reform. Testifying before the 
Subcommittee were Dr. Elizabeth H. Sibolski, President, Middle 
States Commission on Higher Education, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; Dr. Michale McComis, Executive Director, 
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, 
Arlington, Virginia; Ms. Anne D. Neal, President, American 
Council of Trustees and Alumni, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Kevin 
Carey, Director of the Education Policy Program, The New 
America Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    On July 9, 2013, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping College Within Reach: 
Improving Higher Education through Innovation.'' The purpose of 
the hearing was to highlight innovation in higher education 
occurring at the state and institutional level and in the 
private sector. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Scott 
Jenkins, Director of External Relations, Western Governors 
University, Salt Lake City, Utah; Dr. Pamela J. Tate, President 
and Chief Executive Officer, Council for Adult and Experiential 
Learning, Chicago, Illinois; Dr. Joann A. Boughman, Senior Vice 
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University System of Maryland, 
Adelphi, Maryland; and Mr. Burck Smith, Chief Executive Officer 
and Founder, StraighterLine, Baltimore, Maryland.
    On September 11, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Supporting Higher Education Opportunities 
for America's Servicemembers and Veterans.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to examine the efforts of higher education to 
improve postsecondary education opportunities for 
servicemembers and veterans. Testifying before the Subcommittee 
were Mrs. Kimrey W. Rhinehardt, Vice President for Federal and 
Military Affairs, The University of North Carolina, Chapel 
Hill, North Carolina; Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., President, Saint 
Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida; Dr. Russell S. Kitchner, 
Vice President for Regulatory and Governmental Relations, 
American Public University System, Charles Town, West Virginia; 
and Dr. Ken Sauer, Senior Associate Commissioner for Research 
and Academic Affairs, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, 
Indianapolis, Indiana.
    On September 18, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Improving Access and Affordability 
through Innovative Partnerships.'' The purpose of the hearing 
was to examine the efforts of higher education institutions to 
expand access and reduce costs by partnering with local 
employers, other colleges, or online course providers. 
Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Jeffrey Docking, 
President, Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan; Ms. Paula R. 
Singer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Laureate Global 
Products and Services, Baltimore, Maryland; Dr. Rich Baraniuk, 
Professor, Rice University, and Founder, Connexions, Houston, 
Texas; and Dr. Charles Lee Isbell, Jr., Professor and Senior 
Associate Dean, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of 
Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
    On November 13, 2013, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping College Within Reach: 
Simplifying Federal Student Aid.'' The purpose of the hearing 
was to examine the need to streamline, consolidate, and 
simplify federal student aid programs. Testifying before the 
Committee were Ms. Kristin D. Conklin, Founding Partner, HCM 
Strategies, LLC, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Sandy Baum, Research 
Professor of Education Policy, George Washington University 
Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and Senior 
Fellow, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.; Ms. Jennifer 
Mishory, J.D., Deputy Director, Young Invincibles, Washington, 
D.C.; and Mr. Jason Delisle, Director, Federal Education Budget 
Project, New America Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    On December 3, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Strengthening Pell Grants for Future 
Generations.'' The purpose of the hearing was to examine Pell 
Grant program reform proposals to better targetfunds to the 
neediest students and put the program on a fiscally responsible and 
sustainable path. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Mr. Justin 
Draeger, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of 
Student Financial Aid Administrators, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Jenna 
Ashley Robinson, Director of Outreach, John W. Pope Center for Higher 
Education Policy, Raleigh, North Carolina; Mr. Michael Dannenberg, 
Director of Higher Education and Education Finance Policy, The 
Education Trust, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Richard C. Heath, Director 
of Student Financial Services, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, 
Maryland.

Legislative action--First session

    On May 9, 2013, Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Subcommittee 
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced H.R. 1911, the 
Smarter Solutions for Students Act. The bill moved all federal 
student loans (except Perkins loans) to a market-based interest 
rate.
    On May 16, 2013, the Committee considered H.R. 1911 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 24 to 13.
    The Committee considered and adopted the following 
amendment to H.R. 1911:
     Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to make a 
technical change to the bill. The amendment was adopted by 
voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendments 
to H.R. 1911, which were not adopted:
     Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) offered an amendment to 
allocate a portion of the savings generated under the bill to 
Pell Grants. The amendment was withdrawn.
     Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) offered an amendment to 
provide the Secretary of Education with authority to reduce the 
interest rate on student loans if a borrower makes the first 48 
payments on time. The amendment was withdrawn.
     Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) offered an amendment to 
set the federal student loan interest rates at the same rate 
the Federal Reserve charges to banks for two years. The 
amendment failed by a vote of 14 to 23.
     Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) offered an amendment to 
extend the 3.4 percent interest rate on subsidized Stafford 
loans for two years. The amendment failed by a vote of 15 to 
21.
    On May 23, 2013, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 
1911 by a bipartisan vote of 221 to 198.
    On July 24, 2013, the Senate passed a substitute version of 
H.R. 1911, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, by a 
bipartisan vote of 81 to 18. The legislation allowed student 
loan interest rates to reset once a year by the market, but 
they would be locked into a fixed rate once the loan is 
disbursed to the student. Interest rates would be set using the 
following formulas:
     Undergraduate Stafford loans (subsidized and 
unsubsidized): 10-year Treasury Note plus 2.05 percent, capped 
at 8.25 percent.
     Graduate Stafford loans: 10-year Treasury Note 
plus 3.6 percent, capped at 9.5 percent
     PLUS loans (graduate and parent): 10-year Treasury 
Note plus 4.6 percent, capped at 10.5 percent.
    On July 31, 2013, the House of Representatives agreed to 
suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 
1911 by a bipartisan vote of 392 to 31.
    On August 9, 2013, the President of the United States 
signed H.R. 1911 into law (P.L. 113-28).
    On May 13, 2013, Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) introduced H.R. 
1949, the Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students 
Act. The bill directed the Secretary to convene an Advisory 
Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data to conduct 
a study on the factors students and families want, need, and 
already consider when choosing a higher education institution.
    On May 16, 2013, the Committee considered H.R. 1949 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 1949:
     Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) offered an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1949 to (1) include 
individuals who represent undergraduate and graduate education; 
college and career counselors at secondary schools; experts in 
data policy, collection, and use; and experts in labor markets 
on the list of individuals required to be represented on the 
Advisory Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data; 
(2) ensure individuals on the advisory committee represent 
economic, racial, and geographically diverse populations; (3) 
require the advisory committee to examine information related 
to the sources of financial assistance, including federal 
student loans, as part of the required aspects of the study; 
(4) require the advisory committee to examine how information 
regarding student outcomes should be disaggregated for first-
generation students; and (5) provide other conforming and 
technical changes to the bill. The amendment was adopted by 
voice vote.
    On May 22, 2013, the House of Representatives agreed to 
suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1949 by voice vote. The bill 
was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
    On July 10, 2013, Chairman John Kline (R-MN), Subcommittee 
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) 
introduced H.R. 2637, the Supporting Academic Freedom through 
Regulatory Relief Act. The bill, which included the text of the 
Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act (H.R. 2117) 
and the Kline/Foxx/Hastings amendment to H.R. 1 from the 112th 
Congress, repealed the credit hour, state authorization, and 
gainful employment regulations and amended the statute to 
clarify the incentive compensation regulation. Additionally, 
the bill prohibited the U.S. Department of Education from 
issuing related regulations until after Congress reauthorizes 
the Higher Education Act.
    On July 24, 2013, the Committee considered H.R. 2637 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 22 to 13.
    The Committee considered and adopted the following 
amendment to H.R. 2637:
     Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to change a 
subsection title in the legislation. The amendment was adopted 
by voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendment to 
H.R. 2637, which was not adopted:
     Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) offered an amendment to 
strike the prohibition on the U.S. Department of Education from 
issuing regulations related to state authorization, gainful 
employment, and credit hour. The amendment failed by a vote of 
13 to 22.

Hearings--Second session

    On January 28, 2014, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Sharing Best Practices for Serving Low-
Income and First Generation Students.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to highlight best practices at institutions of 
higher education for serving low-income and first generation 
students. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. James 
Anderson, Chancellor, Fayetteville State University, 
Fayetteville, North Carolina; Mrs. Mary Beth Del Balzo, Senior 
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, The 
College of Westchester, White Plains, New York; Mr. Josse Alex 
Garrido, Graduate Student, University of Texas--Pan American, 
Edinburg, Texas; and Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, President, 
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
    On February 27, 2013, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and 
Secondary Education and Subcommittee on Higher Education and 
Workforce Training held a joint hearing in Washington, D.C., on 
``Exploring Efforts to Strengthen the Teaching Profession.'' 
The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the state of teacher 
preparation nationwide. Testifying before the subcommittees 
were Dr. Deborah A. Gist, Commissioner, Rhode Island Department 
of Elementary and Secondary Education, Providence, Rhode 
Island; Dr. Marcy Singer-Gabella, Professor of the Practice of 
Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Dr. 
Heather Peske, Associate Commissioner for Educator Quality, 
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 
Malden, Massachusetts; and Ms. Christina Hall, Co-Founder and 
Co-Director, Urban Teacher Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
    On March 12, 2014, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Examining the 
Mismanagement of the Student Loan Rehabilitation Process.'' The 
purpose of the hearing was to examine the U.S. Department of 
Education's ability to oversee the processing of rehabilitated 
loans issued under the Direct Loan program. Testifying before 
the Subcommittee were Ms. Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director of 
Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, U.S. 
Government Accountability Office, Boston, Massachusetts; The 
Honorable Kathleen Tighe, Inspector General, U.S. Department of 
Education, Washington, D.C.; Mr. James Runcie, Chief Operating 
Officer, Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, 
Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Peg Julius, Executive Director of 
Enrollment Management, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa.
    On March 20, 2014, the Committee held a hearing in Mesa, 
Arizona, entitled ``Reviving our Economy: Supporting a 21st 
Century Workforce.'' The purpose of the hearing was to explore 
the role of local higher education institutions in fostering 
job creation and growth through innovative partnerships with 
the business community and new modes of teaching delivery. 
Testifying before the Committee were The Honorable Rick 
Heumann, Vice Mayor, City of Chandler, Chandler, Arizona; Ms. 
Cathleen Barton, Education Manager, Intel Corporate Affairs, 
Southwestern United States, Intel Corporation, Chandler, 
Arizona; Mr. Lee D. Lambert, J.D., Chancellor, Pima Community 
College, Tucson, Arizona; Dr. William Pepicello, President, 
University of Phoenix, Tempe, Arizona; Dr. Michael Crow, 
President, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona; Dr. Ann 
Weaver Hart, President, The University of Arizona, Tucson, 
Arizona; Dr. Ernest A. Lara, President, Estrella Mountain 
Community College, Avondale, Arizona; and Ms. Christy Farley, 
Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Partnerships, 
Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
    On April 2, 2014, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce held a hearing in Washington, D.C., entitled 
``Keeping College Within Reach: Meeting the Needs of 
Contemporary Students.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
examine how institutions, states, and other entities assist 
contemporary college students in accessing and completing 
postsecondary education. Testifying before the Committee were 
Dr. George A. Pruitt, President, Thomas Edison State College, 
Trenton, New Jersey; Dr. Kevin Gilligan, Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer, Capella Education Company, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; Mr. David Moldoff, Chief Executive Officer and 
Founder, AcademyOne, Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania; Dr. 
Joann A. Boughman, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, 
University System of Maryland, Adelphi, Maryland; Mr. Stan 
Jones, President, Complete College America, Indianapolis, 
Indiana; and Dr. Brooks A. Keel, President, Georgia Southern 
University, Statesboro, Georgia.

Legislative action--Second session

    On September 19, 2013, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Rep. Susan 
Brooks (R-IN), and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced H.R. 
3136, the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration 
Project Act of 2013. The bill directed the Secretary to select 
institutions or consortia of institutions for voluntary 
participation in competency-based education demonstration 
projects. The demonstration projects would have provided 
participating entities with the ability to offer competency-
based education programs that do not meet certain statutory and 
regulatory requirements which would otherwise prevent them from 
participating in federal student aid programs.
    On July 10, 2014, the Committee considered H.R. 3136 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 3136:
     Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-
CO) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to add 
certain requirements to the applications to participate in a 
competency-based education project; allow eligible entities to 
submit amendments to their previously-approved applications; 
set requirements for the entities the Secretary must choose to 
participate in the programs; require institutions to provide 
student information to the director of the Institute of 
Education Sciences (IES); require the Director of IES to 
annually evaluate each project and provide a report with 
specified information to the authorizing committees; authorize 
funds to be available from the amount appropriated for salaries 
and expenses of the U.S. Department of Education, and make 
conforming and technical changes to the introduced bill. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendment to 
H.R. 3136, which was not adopted:
     Rep. Tierney (D-MA) offered an amendment that 
would have allowed students with federal student loans and 
private student loans issued prior to 2013 to refinance those 
loans into new federal loans at the interest rate set for the 
2013-2014 academic year. The amendment was ruled non-germane. 
Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) appealed the ruling of the 
chair. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) offered a motion to table the 
appeal of the ruling of the chair, which was adopted by a vote 
of 22 to 16.
    On July 23, 2014, the House of Representatives considered 
H.R. 3136 and passed it, as amended, by a recorded vote of 414-
0 on July 23, 2014. The bill was sent to the Senate and was 
referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
    On June 26, 2014, Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-
NC) and Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) introduced H.R. 4983, the 
Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act. The bill 
simplified and streamlined the information made publicly 
available by the Secretary regarding institutions of higher 
education.
    On July 10, 2014, the Committee considered H.R. 4983 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by a voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 4983:
    -Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that 
required additional information on the College Dashboard; 
required the Secretary to conduct consumer testing in 
consultation with appropriate federal departments and agencies; 
ensured consumer testing addresses whether the College 
Dashboard provides useful and relevant information to students 
and families; required the Secretary to submit to the 
authorizing committees recommendations based on the results of 
consumer testing; set new minimum requirements for net price 
calculators, required funding to come from funds already 
appropriated to maintain the College Navigator; and made other 
conforming and technical changes. The amendment was adopted by 
voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendment to 
H.R. 4983, which was not adopted:
     Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) offered an 
amendment that required the Commissioner of Education 
Statistics to establish a formula for determining the 
percentage of student borrowers who have completed their course 
of study and who are in repayment or in an authorized deferment 
period at three, five and 10 years after completion of a 
program of study. The amendment failed by a vote of 13 to 21.
    On July 23, 2014, the House of Representatives considered 
H.R. 4983 under suspension of the rules. The bill was agreed to 
by voice vote, sent to the Senate, and referred to the Senate 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
    On June 26, 2014, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. 
Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced H.R. 4984, the Empowering 
Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. The bill 
amended the loan counseling requirements under the Higher 
Education Act and required counseling for Federal Pell Grant 
recipients.
    On July 10, 2014, the Committee considered H.R. 4984 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 4984:
     Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Suzanne Bonamici 
(D-OR) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that 
removed the requirement that annual counseling for Pell Grant 
recipients be tied to disbursement of the grant; required 
additional information be disclosed to borrowers during annual 
counseling and exit counseling sessions; required institutions 
to provide annual counseling to borrowers receiving Parent PLUS 
loans; required any funds used to carry out the act to come 
from funds already appropriated to maintain the Financial 
Awareness Counseling Tool; and made conforming and technical 
changes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    The Committee further considered the following amendment to 
H.R. 4984, which was not adopted:
     Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) offered an amendment to 
modify the rule requiring for-profit colleges to receive at 
least 10 percent of their revenue from sources other than the 
U.S. Department of Education to remain eligible for federal 
student aid to include all federal aid, including veterans' 
educational benefits and some Workforce Investment Act funds, 
in the 90 percent portion of the calculation and only private 
funds in the 10 percent portion of the calculation. The 
amendment was ruled non-germane. Ranking Member George Miller 
(D-CA) appealed the ruling of the chair. Rep. Glenn Thompson 
(R-PA) offered a motion to table the appeal of the ruling of 
the chair, which was adopted by a vote of 20 to 13.
    On July 24, 2014, the House of Representatives considered 
H.R. 4984 and passed it, as amended, by a vote of 405-11. The 
bill was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                             114TH CONGRESS

Hearings--First session

    On February 4, 2015, the Committee held a hearing in 
Washington, D.C., on ``Expanding Opportunity in America's 
Schools and Workplaces.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
allow Committee members to learn about efforts made by state 
leaders to strengthen education, to make sure those who 
graduate are prepared to pursue a postsecondary education and 
compete in the workforce, and promote efforts to spur job 
creation. Testifying before the Committee were Dr. Michael 
Amiridis, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic 
Affairs, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South 
Carolina; Mr. Drew Greenblatt, President and CEO, Marlin Steel 
Wire Products, Baltimore, Maryland; Dr. Lawrence Mishel, Ph.D., 
President, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.; and The 
Honorable Mike Pence, Governor, State of Indiana, Indianapolis, 
Indiana.
    On March 17, 2015, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Strengthening 
America's Higher Education System.'' The purpose of the hearing 
was to explore policy proposals that align with the Committee's 
four pillars for reauthorization of the HEA: (1) empowering 
students and families to make informed decisions; (2) 
simplifying and improving student aid; (3) promoting 
innovation, access, and completion; and (4) ensuring strong 
accountability and a limited federal role. Testifying before 
the Subcommittee were Mr. Willis Goldsmith, Partner, Jones Day, 
New York, New York who testified on behalf of the U.S. Chamber 
of Commerce; Mr. Stan Soloway, President and CEO, Professional 
Services Council, Arlington, Virginia; Ms. Angela Styles, 
Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Karla 
Walter, Associate Director, American Worker Project, Center for 
American Progress, Washington, D.C.
    On April 30, 2015, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Improving 
College Access and Completion for Low-Income and First-
Generation Students.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
explore policy proposals and best practices to strengthen 
programs to help disadvantaged students access and complete 
higher education. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. 
Laura Perna, James S. Riepe Professor, Executive Director, 
Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy, University of 
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dr. Charles J. 
Alexander, Associate Vice Provost for Student Diversity, 
Director, Academic Advancement Program, Associate Adjunct 
Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, California; 
Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, President, Institute for Higher 
Education Policy, Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Joe D. May, 
Chancellor, Dallas County Community College District, Dallas, 
Texas.
    On September 10, 2015, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Preventing 
and Responding to Sexual Assault on College Campuses.'' The 
purpose of the hearing was to explore policy proposals and best 
practices to help institutions address and respond to campus 
sexual assault and violence. Testifying before the Subcommittee 
were Ms. Dana Scaduto, General Counsel, Dickinson College, 
Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Dr. Penny Rue, Vice President for 
Campus Life, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North 
Carolina; Ms. Lisa M. Maatz, M.A., Vice President for 
Government Relations, American Association of University Women, 
Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Joseph Cohn, Legislative and Policy 
Director, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    On November 18, 2015, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training, together with the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations held a 
hearing in Washington, D.C., on ``Federal Student Aid: 
Performance-Based Organization Review.'' The purpose of the 
hearing was to review the Office of Federal Student Aid's (FSA) 
responsibilities as a Performance-Based Organization (PBO), 
evaluate the PBO's performance, and identify possible areas of 
reform. Testifying before the subcommittees were Mr. James 
Runcie, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Department of Education, 
Washington, D.C.; Ms. Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director, Education 
Workforce, and Income Security, U.S. Government Accountability 
Office, Washington, D.C.; The Honorable Kathleen Tighe, 
Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, 
D.C.; Mr. Ben Miller, Senior Director, Postsecondary Education, 
Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Justin 
Draeger, President, National Association of Student Financial 
Aid Administrators, Washington, D.C.

Legislative action--First session

    On July 23, 2015, Higher Education and Workforce Training 
Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx along with Chairman John 
Kline (R-MN), Ranking Member Robert C. Scott (D-VA), and Reps. 
Luke Messer (R-IN), Gregorio Sablan (D-MP), Tim Walberg (R-MI), 
Joe Heck (R-NV), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), 
Susan Davis (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Mark DeSaulnier 
(D-CA) introduced H.R. 3178, the Strengthening Transparency in 
Higher Education Act. The bill ensures straightforward and 
useful information is easily accessible to students and parents 
and improves coordination between federal agencies to publish 
information about colleges and universities.
    On July 23, 2015, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) along with 
Chairman John Kline (R-MN), Ranking Member Robert C. Scott (D-
VA), and Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), 
Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Joe Heck (R-NV), Luke 
Messer (R-IN), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), 
Susan Davis (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Gregorio Sablan (D-
MP), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark Takano (D-CA), Katherine Clark (D-
MA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Richard Hudson (R-NC) 
introduced H.R. 3179, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced 
Financial Counseling Act. The bill promotes financial literacy 
through enhanced counseling for all recipients of federal 
financial aid.
    On September 24, 2015, Reps. Mike Bishop (R-MI) and Mark 
Pocan (D-WI) introduced H.R. 3594, the Higher Education 
Extension Act of 2015. The bill extends the authorization of 
the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity and the authority of institutions of higher education 
to make loans to new borrowers under the federal Perkins loan 
program through September 30, 2016.
    On September 28, 2015, the House of Representatives passed 
H.R. 3594 by a voice vote. The bill was sent to the Senate and 
referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions. The Senate amended the bill to extend the 
authorization of the federal Perkins loan program to September 
30, 2017. The amendment was adopted by unanimous consent, and 
the underlying legislation was subsequently passed in the 
Senate on December 16, 2015, by voice vote.
    On December 17, 2015, the House agreed to the Senate 
amendment by unanimous consent. The Higher Education Extension 
Act of 2015 was signed into law by the President on December 
18, 2015.

Legislative action--Second session

    On June 22, 2016, the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce considered H.R. 3178 in legislative session and 
reported it favorably, as amended, to the House of 
Representatives by voice vote. The Committee considered and 
adopted the following amendment to H.R. 3178:
     Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to make 
conforming and technical changes. The amendment was adopted by 
voice vote.
    On June 22, 2016, the Committee considered H.R. 3179 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 3179:
     Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) offered an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute to make conforming and technical 
changes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    On June 20, 2016, Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) along with Reps. 
David ``Phil'' Roe (R-TN), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Mark Pocan 
(D-WI) introduced H.R. 5528, the Simplifying the Application 
for Student Aid Act. The bill ensures continued allowance for 
earlier notification of federal student aid, leverages 
technology to make the application for federal student aid more 
accessible and easier to fill out, and provides more time for 
aid administrators to verify and package student aid.
    On June 22, 2016, the Committee considered H.R. 5528 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 5528:
     Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) offered an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute to make conforming and technical 
changes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    On June 20, 2016, Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) along with Reps. 
Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) introduced H.R. 
5529, the Accessing Higher Education Opportunities Act. The 
bill expands the authorized uses of funds for Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions (HSIs) so they may promote dual enrollment 
opportunities and encourage Hispanic students to pursue 
doctoral degree programs in the healthcare industry.
    On June 22, 2016, the Committee considered H.R. 5529 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 5529:
     Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) offered an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute to make conforming and technical 
changes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    On June 20, 2016, Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC) and Bradley Byrne 
(R-AL) introduced H.R. 5530, the HBCU Capital Financing 
Improvement Act. The bill improves the program by requiring the 
advisory board to send an annual report to Congress regarding 
the status of the Historically Black College and University 
(HBCU) Capital Financing Program. Additionally, the bill 
renames the escrow account to ``bond insurance fund.'' Lastly, 
this bill allows for financial counseling to potential eligible 
HBCUs to assist in their preparation to qualify, apply for, and 
maintain a capital improvement loan.
    On June 22, 2016, the Committee considered H.R. 5530 in 
legislative session and reported it favorably, as amended, to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote. The Committee 
considered and adopted the following amendment to H.R. 5530:
     Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) offered an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute to make conforming and technical 
changes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

                                Summary

    The Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act 
streamlines the overwhelming maze of consumer information about 
institutions of higher education provided to students and 
families by the federal government through a consumer-tested, 
internet-based College Dashboard website. The College Dashboard 
will provide students with key pieces of prominently displayed 
information on enrollment, completion, net price, and average 
loan debt. Additionally, the College Dashboard will provide 
wage data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and 
a link to campus safety information. Through links to other 
webpages, the College Dashboard also will supply consumers with 
additional disaggregated enrollment and completion information 
on key populations of students.
    The Secretary is currently only required by law to publish 
information regarding first-time students who attend classes 
full-time, ignoring the majority of the current college 
population. To ensure students and families are provided a more 
complete picture of the higher education landscape, the 
legislation requires the Commissioner of Education Statistics 
(Commissioner) to ensure completion data is reflective of all 
students, both traditional and contemporary students alike. 
Additionally, the legislation allows students to easily compare 
institutions as they make their college decisions and requires 
the Secretary to provide a link to the College Dashboard page 
for each institution listed on a student's Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. To avoid duplication and 
reduce confusion for students, the legislation directs the 
Secretary to coordinate with other federal agencies to ensure 
all published higher education data is consistent with 
information available on the College Dashboard.
    The legislation improves existing institutional net price 
calculators to ensure students are able to easily find the 
calculators and understand information provided by the 
calculators. Under H.R. 3178, calculators will now be clearly 
labeled as a net price calculator and must be prominently, 
clearly, and conspicuously posted on an institution's website 
where other information on costs and student aid is available. 
Calculators must provide information on net price, cost of 
attendance, available grant aid, and veterans' educational 
benefits. The legislation prohibits any personally identifiable 
information provided by users on institutional net price 
calculators from being sold or made available to third parties.

                            Committee Views

Introduction

    Selecting a college or university is a personal decision 
for students and their families, with many different variables 
involved in the decision-making process. To assist them in this 
decision, the federal government has taken steps in recent 
years to improve data collection and transparency in higher 
education, with better data ideally resulting in more informed 
choices. The Higher Education Opportunity Act, the 2008 
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), required 
colleges and universities to make information about price, 
financial aid, and basic facts and figures--such as student 
demographics and graduation rates--readily available to the 
public. There are numerous other federal transparency 
initiatives currently available to students and their families, 
authorized under HEA and created by various federal entities. 
However, instead of providing clarity, these initiatives add 
more confusion by presenting conflicting or redundant 
information with limited opportunity to compare different 
education options. Further complicating matters, available data 
does not include a large portion of the current college-going 
population or capture all crucial information students and 
families need to view and understand the entire landscape of 
higher education.
    Despite attempts by the federal government to improve data 
collection and transparency in the higher education system, 
students and families still struggle to access and understand 
information helpful in selecting the right postsecondary 
institution for their unique situations. Meanwhile, higher 
education leaders have raised concerns about the excessive 
federal data reporting requirements, some of which are 
duplicative of state and local efforts.

Ensuring straightforward and useful college data

    To help students and families make more informed decisions 
about their higher education options, Subcommittee Chairwoman 
Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Reps. Luke Messer (R-IN) and Gregorio 
Sablan (D-MP) introduced H.R. 3178, the Strengthening 
Transparency in Higher Education Act. The legislation 
streamlines the majority of federal transparency initiatives 
authorized under the HEA into one consumer-tested website, the 
College Dashboard, which will prominently display the key 
pieces of information students need when deciding which school 
to attend.
    During an April 24, 2013, hearing entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Enhancing Transparency for Students, 
Families, and Taxpayers,'' the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training explored opportunities to streamline and improve 
higher education data for students. At the hearing, Mr. Travis 
Reindl, Program Director for the Education Division at the 
National Governors Association, urged Congress to take up such 
an effort:

        Simpler and clearer should be a goal for federal 
        efforts. The upcoming reauthorization of the Higher 
        Education Act provides a prime opportunity for the 
        [sic] Congress to review all of the existing 
        dashboards, report cards, and data tools for 
        postsecondary education to determine whether and how 
        they are being used and if there are opportunities for 
        streamlining or consolidation.\1\
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    \1\http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=308347.

    The reauthorization of HEA is an opportunity for the 
Committee to re-evaluate the usefulness of some federal 
transparency initiatives and data collections. H.R. 3178 
repeals the College Navigator, the College Affordability and 
Transparency Lists, the State Higher Education Spending Chart, 
and the Multi-year Tuition Calculator. Under the bill, the 
Secretary is no longer required to publish institutional 
information a student could easily find on the institution's 
website, such as mission, average college admission test 
scores, percentage of students accepted each year, number of 
degrees awarded, and most popular majors offered. Instead, H.R. 
3178 creates a streamlined and consumer-tested College 
Dashboard that will prominently display important data points 
on each institution that will help students and families make 
an informed decision, such as the size and type of the 
institution, the net price to attend, the average federal 
student loan debt of a borrower upon graduation, and the 
completion rates of students who attend the institution. 
Additionally, the legislation ensures the College Dashboard 
allows students to easily compare this information to other 
institutions, disaggregated by key demographic areas, including 
race, socioeconomic level, and disability status.
    The Committee appreciates the value of the various non-
federal efforts to provide consumer information to students, 
such as the College Portrait, which was created as a part of 
Voluntary System of Accountability developed by the Association 
of Public and Land-grant Universities and the American 
Association of State Colleges, and the University & College 
Accountability Network, which was created by the National 
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The 
Committee continues to believe institutions of higher education 
are an important resource for providing current and potential 
students with information they need and want to know. 
Institutions should continue to provide students with relevant 
information through both individual institutional efforts and 
collaborative projects like those described above.
    The Committee notes there are a number of federal agencies 
in addition to the U.S. Department of Education that collect 
and publicly report information on colleges and universities, 
including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau. To avoid duplication and reduce 
confusion for students, H.R. 3178 directs the Secretary to 
coordinate with these other federal agencies to ensure all 
published higher education data is consistent with information 
available on the College Dashboard.

Making higher education data relevant for contemporary students

    Over the last 10 years, the dynamics of higher education 
have shifted dramatically. According to the National Center for 
Education Statistics (NCES), non-traditional or contemporary 
students now comprise a majority of all undergraduates.\2\ This 
trend is expected to continue in the coming years, with NCES 
expecting enrollments of students older than 25 to rise by 
almost 15 percent between 2013 and 2024.\3\ Despite their 
growing majority, these contemporary students are largely 
ignored in the current higher education data collection 
efforts. Under current law, the Secretary is only required to 
publish information regarding first-time students who attend 
classes full-time, generally leaving out those students who are 
older, have families or jobs, attend school part-time, or have 
previous college experience. To ensure the federal government 
provides a complete picture of the higher education landscape, 
the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act requires 
the Commissioner to ensure completion data is reflective of all 
students, both traditional and contemporary. H.R. 3178 also 
requires the publishing of information on the cost per credit 
hour, or the credit hour equivalency, on the College Dashboard, 
so students who attend school less than full-time are able to 
have a cost estimate more relevant to them.
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    \2\https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d14/tables/dt14_303.40.asp.
    \3\http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=98.
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    The Committee appreciates the efforts made by the higher 
education community to create better and more comprehensive 
completion metrics that include a larger percentage of the 
current college-going population. Particularly, the Committee 
believes the Student Achievement Measure\4\ and the efforts of 
the Committee on Measures for Student Success provide a good 
foundation for the Commissioner on Education Statistics' 
development of more robust completion metrics that also include 
transfer students. The Committee expects the Commissioner on 
Education Statistics to consult these entities and others 
during the development of the metrics.
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    \4\http://www.studentachievementmeasure.org/.
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    To provide more relevant information about institutions to 
students and families, the College Dashboard, on subsequent 
pages linked from the main page, will provide consumers with 
additional disaggregated enrollment and completion information 
on key student populations. Under H.R. 3178, institutions are 
required to report completion data, specifically for Pell Grant 
recipients as well as borrowers of both subsidized and 
unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans. Dr. Michelle 
Cooper, President of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, 
noted at the April 30 2015, Committee on Education and the 
Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 
Training hearing entitled ``Improving College Access and 
Completion for Low-Income and First-Generation Students'' that 
``[f]or first-generation and low-income students, having access 
to clear and reliable information is critical.''\5\ The federal 
government is on track to spend more than $128 billion on 
federal student aid this year.\6\ Policymakers need more 
accurate data on whether these dollars are actually helping 
students graduate. H.R. 3178 helps not only students and 
families, but also taxpayers and policymakers understand the 
impact of federal student aid dollars.
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    \5\http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=398748.
    \6\http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget17/
justifications/n-sao.pdf.
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    In recent years, states, researchers, business leaders, and 
members of Congress have also discussed the possibility of 
reporting the salaries of college graduates from public and 
private universities. However, the Committee is concerned that 
meaningful post-graduation earnings data is not currently 
collected by institutions and to report this data would place 
an enormous burden on institutions. Additionally, the Committee 
has significant concerns about the implications on student 
privacy of requiring this type of data collection. Furthermore, 
the Committee believes earnings data alone is not necessarily 
an appropriate measure by which students and families can 
assess the value of an institution. At the April 24, 2013, 
Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher 
Education and Workforce Training hearing entitled ``Keeping 
College Within Reach: Enhancing Transparency for Students, 
Families, and Taxpayers,'' Dr. Donald Heller, Dean of the 
College of Education at Michigan State University, noted the 
potential complications with relying solely on post-graduation 
earnings to determine the value of a college or university:

          While there are important vocational training 
        components of many postsecondary programs, a college 
        education--whether it is one that leads to a bachelor's 
        degree or not--confers returns to the individual and 
        society that cannot be valued only by the simple 
        measurement of an individual's wages in her first job 
        after college.

    However, as college costs continue to increase, the 
Committee recognizes the importance of giving potential 
students a picture of the return they can expect on their 
investment in higher education. H.R. 3178 requires the 
Secretary to provide a link to data from the BLS on national 
and regional starting salaries for each occupation on each 
institution's College Dashboard page. The Committee believes 
the U.S. Department of Labor's ``Career One Stop'' website\7\ 
displays this information in a way students and families can 
easily understand, and the Committee suggests using this link 
on the College Dashboard. This information will allow students 
to see what they could potentially earn in a particular 
occupation and then to decide if those earnings match up to the 
cost of the institution under consideration.
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    \7\http://www.careeronestop.org/SalariesBenefits/Sal_default.aspx.
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Ensuring effective delivery of information to students and families

    The Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act 
requires the Secretary, in consultation with other relevant 
agencies, to conduct consumer testing of the College Dashboard. 
By engaging relevant stakeholders, the Committee hopes to 
ensure information on the College Dashboard is presented in the 
most user-friendly manner possible to assist students and 
families searching for the institution of higher education that 
best fits their unique needs. Stakeholders include current and 
prospective college students, family members of students, 
institutions of higher education, and higher education experts. 
Based on consumer testing, the Secretary is required to report 
to Congress any recommendations for changes to the information 
required to be provided on the College Dashboard.
    Despite the deluge of federal resources available, when 
interviewed, students and families often cite areas and modes 
of research that are different than what policymakers in 
Washington expect. More often than not, students and families 
rely on information acquired first-hand or they simply choose 
the school closest to their homes, rather than using empirical 
information provided by the federal government. At the April 
24, 2013, Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee 
on Higher Education and Workforce Training hearing, Mr. 
Alexander Garrido, a student at Keiser University in Miami, 
Florida, stated, ``I was not aware of any navigation tools from 
the Department of Education, which was why my decision was 
based mostly on my visit and the support of my friends and 
family.''\8\
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    \8\http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=330710.
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    Recognizing many students are simply unaware of the 
resources provided by the federal government to assist in their 
college search, H.R. 3178 instructs the Secretary to provide a 
link to the College Dashboard page for each institution listed 
on a student's FAFSA form. This ensures students are provided 
with the information they need to make knowledgeable decisions 
about college options at the time they are making those 
decisions.
    At the same hearing, Dr. Donald Heller summarized the 
current task before policymakers:

          [T]he Internet has greatly helped to democratize 
        access to information. What it has not done as 
        successfully, however, has been to help people get 
        access to the right information to meet their needs. 
        And it is critical that we help prospective students to 
        get the right information in their hands at the 
        necessary times.\9\
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    \9\Ibid.

    Students and families may be deterred from using federal 
transparency resources for a variety of reasons, including 
their exceptional length or complicated and inconsistent 
delivery of information. The Strengthening Transparency in 
Higher Education Act ensures the information required to be 
provided by the U.S. Department of Education is not only 
helpful information, but also that it is easily understandable 
and provided to students at the appropriate time.

Conclusion

    With over 7,000 public, private, nonprofit, and proprietary 
institutions of higher education, the American higher education 
system affords students from all backgrounds multiple options 
to find an institution that meet their unique needs. The 
Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act takes an 
important step toward strengthening our higher education system 
by improving transparency and ensuring all students and 
families have access to the information they need to make the 
best decisions about their education.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Short title

    States the short title is the Strengthening Transparency in 
Higher Education Act.

Section 2. College dashboard website

    Amends section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
ensure published transparency data includes information on more 
than just first-time students. Repeals the College Navigator, 
the College Affordability and Transparency Lists, the State 
Higher Education Spending Chart, and the Multi-year Tuition 
Calculator required under section 132.
    Directs the Secretary to develop and make publicly 
available a College Dashboard website that includes aggregated 
information on enrollment, completion, cost, financial aid, and 
faculty listed in simple and understandable terms for each 
institution of higher education that participates in a program 
under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Directs the 
Secretary to publish disaggregated rates for various student 
groups on other Internet webpages that linked to through the 
College Dashboard.
    Directs the Secretary to conduct consumer testing to ensure 
the College Dashboard is usable, easily understandable, and 
provides useful and relevant information to students and 
families. Requires the Secretary to submit to the authorizing 
committees any recommendations based on the results of consumer 
testing for changing the information required to be provided on 
the College Dashboard.
    Requires the Secretary to provide to each student 
submitting a FAFSA a link to the webpage of the College 
Dashboard website for each institution of higher education the 
student includes on the FAFSA.
    Directs the Secretary to coordinate with other federal 
agencies to ensure all published higher education data is 
consistent with information available on the College Dashboard.

Section 3. Net price calculators

    Amends section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
set minimum requirements for net price calculators regarding 
their design, placement on institutions' websites, and 
information required to be included.
    Prohibits any personally identifiable information provided 
by users on institutional net price calculators from being sold 
or made available to third parties.

Section 4. Funding

    Provides for $1,000,000 of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated to the U.S. Department of Education to maintain 
the College Navigator website to carry out this act, and 
specifies no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated 
by this act.

                       Explanation of Amendments

    The amendments, including the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, are explained in the body of this report.

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a 
description of the application of this bill to the legislative 
branch. H.R. 3178, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher 
Education Act, streamlines and improves the information about 
institutions of higher education made available by the 
Secretary of Education (Secretary) to help students and 
families make more informed decisions about postsecondary 
education options.

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement of 
whether the provisions of the reported bill include unfunded 
mandates. This issue is addressed in the CBO letter.

                           Earmark Statement

    H.R. 3178 does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9 of House Rule XXI.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    In accordance with clause (3)(c) of House Rule XIII, the 
goals of H.R. 3178 are to streamline and improve the 
information about institutions of higher education made 
available by the Secretary of Education to help students and 
families make more informed decisions about postsecondary 
education options.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    No provision of H.R. 3178 establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The committee estimates that enacting H.R. 3178 does not 
specifically direct the completion of any specific rule makings 
within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

  Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the body of this report.

               New Budget Authority and CBO Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the committee has received 
the following estimate for H.R. 3178 from the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, July 5, 2016.
Hon. John Kline, Chairman,
Committee on Education and the Workforce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3178, the 
Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Justin 
Humphrey.
            Sincerely,
                                                        Keith Hall.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 3178--Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act

    H.R. 3178 would reserve $1 million from funding for the 
Department of Education to replace the current College 
Navigator website with a new website and would change the type 
of information that the website would need to provide. The bill 
also would amend the requirements for the department's net-
price calculator, which provides details on the costs of post-
secondary education.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3178 would cost $1 million 
for administrative costs over the 2017-2021 period; such 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3178 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
    H.R. 3178 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Justin Humphrey. 
The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison of the 
costs that would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 3178. 
However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                    PART C--COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION

SEC. 131. IMPROVEMENTS IN MARKET INFORMATION AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY 
                    IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

  (a) Improved Data Collection.--
          (1) Development of uniform methodology.--The 
        Secretary shall direct the Commissioner of Education 
        Statistics to convene a series of forums to develop 
        nationally consistent methodologies for reporting costs 
        incurred by postsecondary institutions in providing 
        postsecondary education.
          (2) Redesign of data systems.--On the basis of the 
        methodologies developed pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall redesign relevant parts of the 
        postsecondary education data systems to improve the 
        usefulness and timeliness of the data collected by such 
        systems.
          (3) Information to institutions.--The Commissioner of 
        Education Statistics shall--
                  (A) develop a standard definition for the 
                following data elements:
                          (i) tuition and fees for a full-time 
                        undergraduate student;
                          (ii) cost of attendance for a full-
                        time undergraduate student, consistent 
                        with the provisions of section 472;
                          (iii) average amount of financial 
                        assistance received by an undergraduate 
                        student who attends an institution of 
                        higher education, including--
                                  (I) each type of assistance 
                                or benefit described in section 
                                428(a)(2)(C)(ii);
                                  (II) fellowships; and
                                  (III) institutional and other 
                                assistance; and
                          (iv) number of students receiving 
                        financial assistance described in each 
                        of subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of 
                        clause (iii);
                  (B) not later than 90 days after the date of 
                enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 
                1998, report the definitions to each 
                institution of higher education and within a 
                reasonable period of time thereafter inform the 
                authorizing committees of those definitions; 
                and
                  (C) collect information regarding the data 
                elements described in subparagraph (A) with 
                respect to at least all institutions of higher 
                education participating in programs under title 
                IV, beginning with the information from 
                academic year 2000-2001 and annually 
                thereafter.
  (b) Data Dissemination.--The Secretary shall make available 
the data collected pursuant to subsection (a). Such data shall 
be available in a form that permits the review and comparison 
of the data submissions of individual institutions of higher 
education. Such data shall be presented in a form that is 
easily understandable and allows parents and students to make 
informed decisions based on the costs for typical full-time 
undergraduate students.
  (c) Study.--
          (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Education 
        Statistics shall conduct a national study of 
        expenditures at institutions of higher education. Such 
        study shall include information with respect to--
                  (A) the change in tuition and fees compared 
                with the consumer price index and other 
                appropriate measures of inflation;
                  (B) faculty salaries and benefits;
                  (C) administrative salaries, benefits and 
                expenses;
                  (D) academic support services;
                  (E) research;
                  (F) operations and maintenance; and
                  (G) institutional expenditures for 
                construction and technology and the potential 
                cost of replacing instructional buildings and 
                equipment.
          (2) Evaluation.--The study shall include an 
        evaluation of--
                  (A) changes over time in the expenditures 
                identified in paragraph (1);
                  (B) the relationship of the expenditures 
                identified in paragraph (1) to college costs; 
                and
                  (C) the extent to which increases in 
                institutional financial aid and tuition 
                discounting practices affect tuition increases, 
                including the demographics of students 
                receiving such discounts, the extent to which 
                financial aid is provided to students with 
                limited need in order to attract a student to a 
                particular institution, and the extent to which 
                Federal financial aid, including loan aid, has 
                been used to offset the costs of such 
                practices.
          (3) Final report.--The Commissioner of Education 
        Statistics shall submit a report regarding the findings 
        of the study required by paragraph (1) to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress not later than 
        September 30, 2002.
          (4) Higher education market basket.--The Bureau of 
        Labor Statistics, in consultation with the Commissioner 
        of Education Statistics, shall develop a higher 
        education market basket that identifies the items that 
        comprise the costs of higher education. The Bureau of 
        Labor Statistics shall provide a report on the market 
        basket to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Education and the 
        Workforce of the House of Representatives not later 
        than September 30, 2002.
          (5) Fines.--In addition to actions authorized in 
        section 487(c), the Secretary may impose a fine in an 
        amount not to exceed $25,000 on an institution of 
        higher education for failing to provide the information 
        described in paragraph (1) in a timely and accurate 
        manner, or for failing to otherwise cooperate with the 
        National Center for Education Statistics regarding 
        efforts to obtain data on the cost of higher education 
        under this section and pursuant to the program 
        participation agreement entered into under section 487.
  (d) Promotion of the Department of Education Federal Student 
Financial Aid Website.--The Secretary shall display a link to 
the Federal student financial aid website of the Department in 
a prominent place on the homepage of the Department's website.
  (e) Enhanced Student Financial Aid Information.--
          (1) Implementation.--The Secretary shall continue to 
        improve the usefulness and accessibility of the 
        information provided by the Department on college 
        planning and student financial aid.
          (2) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall continue to 
        make the availability of the information on the Federal 
        student financial aid website of the Department widely 
        known, through a major media campaign and other forms 
        of communication.
          (3) Coordination.--As a part of the efforts required 
        under this subsection, the Secretary shall create one 
        website accessible from the Department's website that 
        fulfills the requirements under subsections (b), (f), 
        and (g).
  (f) Improved Availability and Coordination of Information 
Concerning Student Financial Aid Programs for Military Members 
and Veterans.--
          (1) Coordination.--The Secretary, in coordination 
        with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, shall create a searchable website 
        that--
                  (A) contains information, in simple and 
                understandable terms, about all Federal and 
                State student financial assistance, readmission 
                requirements under section 484C, and other 
                student services, for which members of the 
                Armed Forces (including members of the National 
                Guard and Reserves), veterans, and the 
                dependents of such members or veterans may be 
                eligible; and
                  (B) is easily accessible through the website 
                described in subsection (e)(3).
          (2) Implementation.--Not later than one year after 
        the date of enactment of the Higher Education 
        Opportunity Act, the Secretary shall make publicly 
        available the Armed Forces information website 
        described in paragraph (1).
          (3) Dissemination.--The Secretary, in coordination 
        with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, shall make the availability of the 
        Armed Forces information website described in paragraph 
        (1) widely known to members of the Armed Forces 
        (including members of the National Guard and Reserves), 
        veterans, the dependents of such members or veterans, 
        States, institutions of higher education, and the 
        general public.
          (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``Federal and State student financial assistance'' 
        means any grant, loan, work assistance, tuition 
        assistance, scholarship, fellowship, or other form of 
        financial aid for pursuing a postsecondary education 
        that is--
                  (A) administered, sponsored, or supported by 
                the Department of Education, the Department of 
                Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or 
                a State; and
                  (B) available to members of the Armed Forces 
                (including members of the National Guard and 
                Reserves), veterans, or the dependents of such 
                members or veterans.
  (g) Promotion of Availability of Information Concerning Other 
Student Financial Aid Programs.--
          (1) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term ``nondepartmental student financial assistance 
        program'' means any grant, loan, scholarship, 
        fellowship, or other form of financial aid for students 
        pursuing a postsecondary education that is--
                  (A) distributed directly to the student or to 
                the student's account at an institution of 
                higher education; and
                  (B) operated, sponsored, or supported by a 
                Federal department or agency other than the 
                Department of Education.
          (2) Availability of other student financial aid 
        information.--The Secretary shall ensure that--
                  (A) not later than 90 days after the 
                Secretary receives the information required 
                under paragraph (3), the eligibility 
                requirements, application procedures, financial 
                terms and conditions, and other relevant 
                information for each nondepartmental student 
                financial assistance program are searchable and 
                accessible through the Federal student 
                financial aid website in a manner that is 
                simple and understandable for students and the 
                students' families; and
                  (B) the website displaying the information 
                described in subparagraph (A) includes a link 
                to the National Database on Financial 
                Assistance for the Study of Science, 
                Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
                pursuant to paragraph (4), and the information 
                on military benefits under subsection (f), once 
                such Database and information are available.
          (3) Nondepartmental student financial assistance 
        programs.--The Secretary shall request all Federal 
        departments and agencies to provide the information 
        described in paragraph (2)(A), and each Federal 
        department or agency shall--
                  (A) promptly respond to surveys or other 
                requests from the Secretary for the information 
                described in such paragraph; and
                  (B) identify for the Secretary any 
                nondepartmental student financial assistance 
                program operated, sponsored, or supported by 
                such Federal department or agency.
          (4) National stem database.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                establish and maintain, on the website 
                described in subsection (e)(3), a National 
                Database on Financial Assistance for the Study 
                of Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
                Mathematics (in this paragraph referred to as 
                the ``STEM Database''). The STEM Database shall 
                consist of information on scholarships, 
                fellowships, and other programs of Federal, 
                State, local, and, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, private financial assistance 
                available for the study of science, technology, 
                engineering, or mathematics at the 
                postsecondary and postbaccalaureate levels.
                  (B) Database contents.--The information 
                maintained on the STEM Database shall be 
                displayed on the website in the following 
                manner:
                          (i) Separate information.--The STEM 
                        Database shall provide separate 
                        information for each of the fields of 
                        science, technology, engineering, and 
                        mathematics, and for postsecondary and 
                        postbaccalaureate programs of financial 
                        assistance.
                          (ii) Information on targeted 
                        assistance.--The STEM Database shall 
                        provide specific information on any 
                        program of financial assistance that is 
                        targeted to individuals based on 
                        financial need, merit, or student 
                        characteristics.
                          (iii) Contact and website 
                        information.--The STEM Database shall 
                        provide--
                                  (I) standard contact 
                                information that an interested 
                                person may use to contact a 
                                sponsor of any program of 
                                financial assistance included 
                                in the STEM Database; and
                                  (II) if such sponsor 
                                maintains a public website, a 
                                link to the website.
                          (iv) Search and match capabilities.--
                        The STEM Database shall--
                                  (I) have a search capability 
                                that permits an individual to 
                                search for information on the 
                                basis of each category of the 
                                information provided through 
                                the STEM Database and on the 
                                basis of combinations of 
                                categories of the information 
                                provided, including--
                                          (aa) whether the 
                                        financial assistance is 
                                        need- or merit-based; 
                                        and
                                          (bb) by relevant 
                                        academic majors; and
                                  (II) have a match capability 
                                that--
                                          (aa) searches the 
                                        STEM Database for all 
                                        financial assistance 
                                        opportunities for which 
                                        an individual may be 
                                        qualified to apply, 
                                        based on the student 
                                        characteristics 
                                        provided by such 
                                        individual; and
                                          (bb) provides 
                                        information to an 
                                        individual for only 
                                        those opportunities for 
                                        which such individual 
                                        is qualified, based on 
                                        the student 
                                        characteristics 
                                        provided by such 
                                        individual.
                          (v) Recommendation and disclaimer.--
                        The STEM Database shall provide, to the 
                        users of the STEM Database--
                                  (I) a recommendation that 
                                students and families should 
                                carefully review all of the 
                                application requirements prior 
                                to applying for any aid or 
                                program of student financial 
                                assistance; and
                                  (II) a disclaimer that the 
                                non-Federal programs of student 
                                financial assistance presented 
                                in the STEM Database are not 
                                provided or endorsed by the 
                                Department or the Federal 
                                Government.
                  (C) Compilation of financial assistance 
                information.--In carrying out this paragraph, 
                the Secretary shall--
                          (i) consult with public and private 
                        sources of scholarships, fellowships, 
                        and other programs of student financial 
                        assistance; and
                          (ii) make easily available a process 
                        for such entities to provide regular 
                        and updated information about the 
                        scholarships, fellowships, or other 
                        programs of student financial 
                        assistance.
                  (D) Contract authorized.--In carrying out the 
                requirements of this paragraph, the Secretary 
                is authorized to enter into a contract with a 
                private entity with demonstrated expertise in 
                creating and maintaining databases such as the 
                one required under this paragraph, under which 
                contract the entity shall furnish, and 
                regularly update, all of the information 
                required to be maintained on the STEM Database.
          (5) Dissemination of information.--The Secretary 
        shall take such actions, on an ongoing basis, as may be 
        necessary to disseminate information under this 
        subsection and to encourage the use of the information 
        by interested parties, including sending notices to 
        secondary schools and institutions of higher education.
  (h) No User Fees for Department Financial Aid Websites.--No 
fee shall be charged to any individual to access--
          (1) a database or website of the Department that 
        provides information about higher education programs or 
        student financial assistance, including the [College 
        Navigator] College Dashboard website (or successor 
        website) and the websites and databases described in 
        this section and section 132; or
          (2) information about higher education programs or 
        student financial assistance available through a 
        database or website of the Department.

SEC. 132. TRANSPARENCY IN COLLEGE TUITION FOR CONSUMERS.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          [(1) College navigator website.--The term ``College 
        Navigator website'' means the College Navigator website 
        operated by the Department and includes any successor 
        website.]
          (1) College dashboard website.--The term ``College 
        Dashboard website'' means the College Dashboard website 
        required under subsection (d).
          (2) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of 
        attendance'' means the average annual cost of tuition 
        and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and 
        transportation for an institution of higher education 
        for a [first-time,] full-time undergraduate student 
        enrolled in the institution.
          (3) Net price.--The term ``net price'' means the 
        average yearly price actually charged to [first-time,] 
        full-time undergraduate students receiving student aid 
        at an institution of higher education after deducting 
        such aid, which shall be determined by calculating the 
        difference between--
                  (A) the institution's cost of attendance for 
                the year for which the determination is made; 
                and
                  (B) the quotient of--
                          (i) the total amount of need-based 
                        grant aid and merit-based grant aid, 
                        from Federal, State, and institutional 
                        sources, provided to such students 
                        enrolled in the institution for such 
                        year; and
                          (ii) the total number of such 
                        students receiving such need-based 
                        grant aid or merit-based grant aid for 
                        such year.
          (4) Tuition and fees.--The term ``tuition and fees'' 
        means the average annual cost of tuition and fees for 
        an institution of higher education for [first-time,] 
        full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the 
        institution.
  (b) Calculations for Public Institutions.--In making the 
calculations regarding cost of attendance, net price, and 
tuition and fees under this section with respect to a public 
institution of higher education, the Secretary shall calculate 
the cost of attendance, net price, and tuition and fees at such 
institution in the manner described in subsection (a), except 
that--
          (1) the cost of attendance, net price, and tuition 
        and fees shall be calculated for [first-time,] full-
        time undergraduate students enrolled in the institution 
        who are residents of the State in which such 
        institution is located; and
          (2) in determining the net price, the average need-
        based grant aid and merit-based grant aid described in 
        subsection (a)(3)(B) shall be calculated based on the 
        average total amount of such aid received by [first-
        time,] full-time undergraduate students who are 
        residents of the State in which such institution is 
        located, divided by the total number of such resident 
        students receiving such need-based grant aid or merit-
        based grant aid at such institution.
  [(c) College Affordability and Transparency Lists.--
          [(1) Availability of lists.--Beginning July 1, 2011, 
        the Secretary shall make publicly available on the 
        College Navigator website, in a manner that is sortable 
        and searchable by State, the following:
                  [(A) A list of the five percent of 
                institutions in each category described in 
                subsection (d) that have the highest tuition 
                and fees for the most recent academic year for 
                which data are available.
                  [(B) A list of the five percent of 
                institutions in each such category that have 
                the highest net price for the most recent 
                academic year for which data are available.
                  [(C) A list of the five percent of 
                institutions in each such category that have 
                the largest increase, expressed as a percentage 
                change, in tuition and fees over the most 
                recent three academic years for which data are 
                available, using the first academic year of the 
                three-year period as the base year to compute 
                such percentage change.
                  [(D) A list of the five percent of 
                institutions in each such category that have 
                the largest increase, expressed as a percentage 
                change, in net price over the most recent three 
                academic years for which data are available, 
                using the first academic year of the three-year 
                period as the base year to compute such 
                percentage change.
                  [(E) A list of the ten percent of 
                institutions in each such category that have 
                the lowest tuition and fees for the most recent 
                academic year for which data are available.
                  [(F) A list of the ten percent of 
                institutions in each such category that have 
                the lowest net price for the most recent 
                academic year for which data are available.
          [(2) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall annually 
        update the lists described in paragraph (1) on the 
        College Navigator website.
  [(d) Categories of Institutions.--The lists described in 
subsection (c)(1) shall be compiled according to the following 
categories of institutions that participate in programs under 
title IV:
          [(1) Four-year public institutions of higher 
        education.
          [(2) Four-year private, nonprofit institutions of 
        higher education.
          [(3) Four-year private, for-profit institutions of 
        higher education.
          [(4) Two-year public institutions of higher 
        education.
          [(5) Two-year private, nonprofit institutions of 
        higher education.
          [(6) Two-year private, for-profit institutions of 
        higher education.
          [(7) Less than two-year public institutions of higher 
        education.
          [(8) Less than two-year private, nonprofit 
        institutions of higher education.
          [(9) Less than two-year private, for-profit 
        institutions of higher education.
  [(e) Reports by Institutions.--
          [(1) Report to secretary.--If an institution of 
        higher education is included on a list described in 
        subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(1), the 
        institution shall submit to the Secretary a report 
        containing the following information:
                  [(A) A description of the major areas in the 
                institution's budget with the greatest cost 
                increases.
                  [(B) An explanation of the cost increases 
                described in subparagraph (A).
                  [(C) A description of the steps the 
                institution will take toward the goal of 
                reducing costs in the areas described in 
                subparagraph (A).
                  [(D) In the case of an institution that is 
                included on the same list under subparagraph 
                (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(1) for two or more 
                consecutive years, a description of the 
                progress made on the steps described in 
                subparagraph (C) of this paragraph that were 
                included in the institution's report for the 
                previous year.
                  [(E) If the determination of any cost 
                increase described in subparagraph (A) is not 
                within the exclusive control of the 
                institution--
                          [(i) an explanation of the extent to 
                        which the institution participates in 
                        determining such cost increase;
                          [(ii) the identification of the 
                        agency or instrumentality of State 
                        government responsible for determining 
                        such cost increase; and
                          [(iii) any other information the 
                        institution considers relevant to the 
                        report.
          [(2) Information to the public.--The Secretary 
        shall--
                  [(A) issue an annual report that summarizes 
                all of the reports by institutions required 
                under paragraph (1) to the authorizing 
                committees; and
                  [(B) publish such report on the College 
                Navigator website.
  [(f) Exemptions.--
          [(1) In general.--An institution shall not be placed 
        on a list described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of 
        subsection (c)(1), and shall not be subject to the 
        reporting required under subsection (e), if the dollar 
        amount of the institution's increase in tuition and 
        fees, or net price, as applicable, is less than $600 
        for the three-year period described in such 
        subparagraph.
          [(2) Update.--Beginning in 2014, and every three 
        years thereafter, the Secretary shall update the dollar 
        amount described in paragraph (1) based on annual 
        increases in inflation, using the Consumer Price Index 
        for each of the three most recent preceding years.
  [(g) State Higher Education Spending Chart.--The Secretary 
shall annually report on the College Navigator website, in 
charts for each State, comparisons of--
          [(1) the percentage change in spending by such State 
        per full-time equivalent student at all public 
        institutions of higher education in such State, for 
        each of the five most recent preceding academic years;
          [(2) the percentage change in tuition and fees for 
        such students for all public institutions of higher 
        education in such State for each of the five most 
        recent preceding academic years; and
          [(3) the percentage change in the total amount of 
        need-based aid and merit-based aid provided by such 
        State to full-time students enrolled in the public 
        institutions of higher education in the State for each 
        of the five most recent preceding academic years.]
  [(h)] (c) Net Price Calculator.--
          (1) Development of net price calculator.--Not later 
        than one year after the date of enactment of theHigher 
        Education Opportunity Act, the Secretary shall, in 
        consultation with institutions of higher education and 
        other appropriate experts, develop a net price 
        calculator to help current and prospective students, 
        families, and other consumers estimate the individual 
        net price of an institution of higher education for a 
        student. The calculator shall be developed in a manner 
        that enables current and prospective students, 
        families, and consumers to determine an estimate of a 
        current or prospective student's individual net price 
        at a particular institution.
          (2) Calculation of individual net price.--For 
        purposes of this subsection, an individual net price of 
        an institution of higher education shall be calculated 
        in the same manner as the net price of such institution 
        is calculated under subsection (a)(3), except that the 
        cost of attendance and the amount of need-based and 
        merit-based aid available shall be calculated for the 
        individual student as much as practicable.
          (3) Use of net price calculator by institutions.--Not 
        later than two years after the date on which the 
        Secretary makes the calculator developed under 
        paragraph (1) available to institutions of higher 
        education, each institution of higher education that 
        receives Federal funds under title IV shall make 
        publicly available on the institution's website a net 
        price calculator to help current and prospective 
        students, families, and other consumers estimate a 
        student's individual net price at such institution of 
        higher education. Such calculator may be a net price 
        calculator developed--
                  (A) by the Department pursuant to paragraph 
                (1); or
                  (B) by the institution of higher education, 
                if the institution's calculator includes, at a 
                minimum, the same data elements included in the 
                calculator developed under paragraph (1).
          (4) Minimum requirements for net price calculators.--
        Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
        of the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education 
        Act, a net price calculator for an institution of 
        higher education shall meet the following requirements:
                  (A) The link for the calculator shall--
                          (i) be clearly labeled as a net price 
                        calculator and prominently, clearly, 
                        and conspicuously posted in locations 
                        on the website of such institution 
                        where information on costs and aid is 
                        provided and any other location that 
                        the institution considers appropriate; 
                        and
                          (ii) match in size and font to the 
                        other prominent links on the webpage 
                        where the link for the calculator is 
                        displayed.
                  (B) The webpage displaying the results for 
                the calculator shall specify at least the 
                following information:
                          (i) The net price (as calculated 
                        under subsection (a)(2)) for such 
                        institution, which shall be the most 
                        visually prominent figure on the 
                        results screen.
                          (ii) Cost of attendance, including--
                                  (I) tuition and fees;
                                  (II) average annual cost of 
                                room and board for the 
                                institution for a full-time 
                                undergraduate student enrolled 
                                in the institution;
                                  (III) average annual cost of 
                                books and supplies for a full-
                                time undergraduate student 
                                enrolled in the institution; 
                                and
                                  (IV) estimated cost of other 
                                expenses (including personal 
                                expenses and transportation) 
                                for a full-time undergraduate 
                                student enrolled in the 
                                institution.
                          (iii) Estimated total need-based 
                        grant aid and merit-based grant aid 
                        from Federal, State, and institutional 
                        sources that may be available to a 
                        full-time undergraduate student.
                          (iv) Percentage of the full-time 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution that received any type of 
                        grant aid described in clause (iii).
                          (v) The disclaimer described in 
                        paragraph (6).
                          (vi) In the case of a calculator 
                        that--
                                  (I) includes questions to 
                                estimate the eligibility of a 
                                student or prospective student 
                                for veterans' education 
                                benefits (as defined in section 
                                480) or educational benefits 
                                for active duty service 
                                members, such benefits are 
                                displayed on the results screen 
                                in a manner that clearly 
                                distinguishes such benefits 
                                from the grant aid described in 
                                clause (iii); or
                                  (II) does not include 
                                questions to estimate 
                                eligibility for the benefits 
                                described in subclause (I), the 
                                results screen indicates that 
                                certain students (or 
                                prospective students) may 
                                qualify for such benefits and 
                                includes a link to information 
                                about such benefits.
                  (C) The institution shall populate the 
                calculator with data from an academic year that 
                is not more than 2 academic years prior to the 
                most recent academic year.
          (5) Prohibition on use of data collected by the net 
        price calculator.--A net price calculator for an 
        institution of higher education shall--
                  (A) clearly indicate which questions are 
                required to be completed for an estimate of the 
                net price from the calculator;
                  (B) in the case of a calculator that requests 
                contact information from users, clearly mark 
                such requests as optional and provide for an 
                estimate of the net price from the calculator 
                without requiring users to enter such 
                information; and
                  (C) prohibit any personally identifiable 
                information provided by users from being sold 
                or made available to third parties.
          [(4)] (6) Disclaimer.--Estimates of an individual net 
        price determined using a net price calculator required 
        under paragraph (3) shall be accompanied by a clear and 
        conspicuous notice--
                  (A) stating that the estimate--
                          (i) does not represent a final 
                        determination, or actual award, of 
                        financial assistance;
                          (ii) shall not be binding on the 
                        Secretary, the institution of higher 
                        education, or the State; and
                          (iii) may change;
                  (B) stating that the student must complete 
                the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
                described in section 483 in order to be 
                eligible for, and receive, an actual financial 
                aid award that includes Federal grant, loan, or 
                work-study assistance under title IV; and
                  (C) including a link to the website of the 
                Department that allows students to access the 
                Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
                described in section 483.
  [(i) Consumer Information.--
          [(1) Availability of title iv institution 
        information.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        enactment of theHigher Education Opportunity Act, the 
        Secretary shall make publicly available on the College 
        Navigator website, in simple and understandable terms, 
        the following information about each institution of 
        higher education that participates in programs under 
        title IV, for the most recent academic year for which 
        satisfactory data are available:
                  [(A) A statement of the institution's 
                mission.
                  [(B) The total number of undergraduate 
                students who applied to, were admitted by, and 
                enrolled in the institution.
                  [(C) For institutions that require SAT or ACT 
                scores to be submitted, the reading, writing, 
                mathematics, and combined scores on the SAT or 
                ACT, as applicable, for the middle 50 percent 
                range of the institution's freshman class.
                  [(D) The number of first-time, full-time, and 
                part-time students enrolled at the institution, 
                at the undergraduate and (if applicable) 
                graduate levels.
                  [(E) The number of degree- or certificate-
                seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution who have transferred from another 
                institution.
                  [(F) The percentages of male and female 
                undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution.
                  [(G) Of the first-time, full-time, degree- or 
                certificate-seeking undergraduate students 
                enrolled at the institution--
                          [(i) the percentage of such students 
                        who are from the State in which the 
                        institution is located;
                          [(ii) the percentage of such students 
                        who are from other States; and
                          [(iii) the percentage of such 
                        students who are international 
                        students.
                  [(H) The percentages of first-time, full-
                time, degree- or certificate-seeking students 
                enrolled at the institution, disaggregated by 
                race and ethnic background.
                  [(I) The percentage of undergraduate students 
                enrolled at the institution who are formally 
                registered with the office of disability 
                services of the institution (or the equivalent 
                office) as students with disabilities, except 
                that if such percentage is three percent or 
                less, the institution shall report ``three 
                percent or less''.
                  [(J) The percentages of first-time, full-
                time, degree- or certificate-seeking 
                undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution who obtain a degree or certificate 
                within--
                          [(i) the normal time for completion 
                        of, or graduation from, the student's 
                        program;
                          [(ii) 150 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion of, or graduation from, 
                        the student's program; and
                          [(iii) 200 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion of, or graduation from, 
                        the student's program;
                  [(K) The number of certificates, associate 
                degrees, baccalaureate degrees, master's 
                degrees, professional degrees, and doctoral 
                degrees awarded by the institution.
                  [(L) The undergraduate major areas of study 
                at the institution with the highest number of 
                degrees awarded.
                  [(M) The student-faculty ratio, the number of 
                full-time and part-time faculty, and the number 
                of graduate assistants with primarily 
                instructional responsibilities, at the 
                institution.
                  [(N)(i) The cost of attendance for first-
                time, full-time undergraduate students enrolled 
                in the institution who live on campus;
                  [(ii) the cost of attendance for first-time, 
                full-time undergraduate students enrolled in 
                the institution who live off campus; and
                  [(iii) in the case of a public institution of 
                higher education and notwithstanding subsection 
                (b)(1), the costs described in clauses (i) and 
                (ii), for--
                          [(I) first-time, full-time students 
                        enrolled in the institution who are 
                        residents of the State in which the 
                        institution is located; and
                          [(II) first-time, full-time students 
                        enrolled in the institution who are not 
                        residents of such State.
                  [(O) The average annual grant amount 
                (including Federal, State, and institutional 
                aid) awarded to a first-time, full-time 
                undergraduate student enrolled at the 
                institution who receives financial aid.
                  [(P) The average annual amount of Federal 
                student loans provided through the institution 
                to undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution.
                  [(Q) The total annual grant aid awarded to 
                undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution, from the Federal Government, a 
                State, the institution, and other sources known 
                by the institution.
                  [(R) The percentage of first-time, full-time 
                undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                institution receiving Federal, State, and 
                institutional grants, student loans, and any 
                other type of student financial assistance 
                known by the institution, provided publicly or 
                through the institution, such as Federal work-
                study funds.
                  [(S) The number of students enrolled at the 
                institution receiving Federal Pell Grants.
                  [(T) The institution's cohort default rate, 
                as defined under section 435(m).
                  [(U) The information on campus safety 
                required to be collected under section 485(i).
                  [(V) A link to the institution's website that 
                provides, in an easily accessible manner, the 
                following information:
                          [(i) Student activities offered by 
                        the institution.
                          [(ii) Services offered by the 
                        institution for individuals with 
                        disabilities.
                          [(iii) Career and placement services 
                        offered by the institution to students 
                        during and after enrollment.
                          [(iv) Policies of the institution 
                        related to transfer of credit from 
                        other institutions.
                  [(W) A link to the appropriate section of the 
                Bureau of Labor Statistics website that 
                provides information on regional data on 
                starting salaries in all major occupations.
                  [(X) Information required to be submitted 
                under paragraph (4) and a link to the 
                institution pricing summary page described in 
                paragraph (5).
                  [(Y) In the case of an institution that was 
                required to submit a report under subsection 
                (e)(1), a link to such report.
                  [(Z) The availability of alternative tuition 
                plans, which may include guaranteed tuition 
                plans.
          [(2) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall annually 
        update the information described in paragraph (1) on 
        the College Navigator website.
          [(3) Consultation.--The Secretary shall regularly 
        consult with current and prospective college students, 
        family members of such students, institutions of higher 
        education, and other experts to improve the usefulness 
        and relevance of the College Navigator website, with 
        respect to the presentation of the consumer information 
        collected in paragraph (1).
          [(4) Data collection.--The Commissioner for Education 
        Statistics shall continue to update and improve the 
        Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 
        (referred to in this section as ``IPEDS''), including 
        the reporting of information by institutions and the 
        timeliness of the data collected.
          [(5) Institution pricing summary page.--
                  [(A) Availability of list of participating 
                institutions.--The Secretary shall make 
                publicly available on the College Navigator 
                website in a sortable and searchable format a 
                list of all institutions of higher education 
                that participate in programs under title IV, 
                which list shall, for each institution, include 
                the following:
                          [(i) The tuition and fees for each of 
                        the three most recent academic years 
                        for which data are available.
                          [(ii) The net price for each of the 
                        three most recent available academic 
                        years for which data are available.
                          [(iii)(I) During the period beginning 
                        July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2013, 
                        the net price for students receiving 
                        Federal student financial aid under 
                        title IV, disaggregated by the income 
                        categories described in paragraph (6), 
                        for the most recent academic year for 
                        which data are available.
                          [(II) Beginning July 1, 2013, the net 
                        price for students receiving Federal 
                        student financial aid under title IV, 
                        disaggregated by the income categories 
                        described in paragraph (6), for each of 
                        the three most recent academic years 
                        for which data are available.
                          [(iv) The average annual percentage 
                        change and average annual dollar change 
                        in such institution's tuition and fees 
                        for each of the three most recent 
                        academic years for which data are 
                        available.
                          [(v) The average annual percentage 
                        change and average annual dollar change 
                        in such institution's net price for 
                        each of the three most recent preceding 
                        academic years for which data are 
                        available.
                          [(vi) A link to the webpage on the 
                        College Navigator website that provides 
                        the information described in paragraph 
                        (1) for the institution.
                  [(B) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall 
                annually update the lists described in 
                subparagraph (A) on the College Navigator 
                website.
          [(6) Income categories.--
                  [(A) In general.--For purposes of reporting 
                the information required under this subsection, 
                the following income categories shall apply for 
                students who receive Federal student financial 
                aid under title IV:
                          [(i) $0-30,000.
                          [(ii) $30,001-48,000.
                          [(iii) $48,001-75,000.
                          [(iv) $75,001-110,000.
                          [(v) $110,001 and more.
                  [(B) Adjustment.--The Secretary may adjust 
                the income categories listed in subparagraph 
                (A) using the Consumer Price Index if the 
                Secretary determines such adjustment is 
                necessary.]
  (d) Consumer Information.--
          (1) Availability of title iv institution 
        information.--The Secretary shall develop and make 
        publicly available a website to be known as the 
        ``College Dashboard website'' in accordance with this 
        section and prominently display on such website, in 
        simple, understandable, and unbiased terms for the most 
        recent academic year for which satisfactory data are 
        available, the following information with respect to 
        each institution of higher education that participates 
        in a program under title IV:
                  (A) A link to the website of the institution.
                  (B) An identification of the type of 
                institution as one of the following:
                          (i) A four-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                          (ii) A four-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          (iii) A four-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          (iv) A two-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                          (v) A two-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          (vi) A two-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                          (vii) A less than two-year public 
                        institution of higher education.
                          (viii) A less than two-year private, 
                        nonprofit institution of higher 
                        education.
                          (ix) A less than two-year private, 
                        for-profit institution of higher 
                        education.
                  (C) The number of students enrolled at the 
                institution--
                          (i) as undergraduate students; and
                          (ii) as graduate students, if 
                        applicable.
                  (D) The student-faculty ratio.
                  (E) The percentage of degree-seeking or 
                certificate-seeking undergraduate students 
                enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree 
                or certificate within--
                          (i) 100 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion of, or graduation from, 
                        the program in which the student is 
                        enrolled;
                          (ii) 150 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion of, or graduation from, 
                        the program in which the student is 
                        enrolled; and
                          (iii) 200 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion of, or graduation from, 
                        the program in which the student is 
                        enrolled.
                  (F) The average net price per year for 
                undergraduate students receiving Federal 
                student financial aid under title IV based on 
                an income category selected by the user from a 
                list containing the following income 
                categories:
                          (i) $0 to $30,000.
                          (ii) $30,001 to $48,000.
                          (iii) $48,001 to $75,000.
                          (iv) $75,001 to $110,000.
                          (v) $110,001 to $150,000.
                          (vi) Over $150,000.
                  (G) A link to the net price calculator for 
                such institution.
                  (H) The percentage of undergraduate students 
                who obtained a certificate or degree from the 
                institution who borrowed Federal student loans 
                under title IV, and the average Federal student 
                loan debt incurred by an undergraduate student 
                who obtained a certificate or degree from the 
                institution and borrowed Federal student loans 
                under title IV in the course of obtaining such 
                certificate or degree.
                  (I) A link to national and regional data from 
                the Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting 
                salaries in all major occupations.
                  (J) A link to the webpage of the institution 
                containing campus safety data with respect to 
                such institution.
          (2) Other information.--The Secretary shall publish 
        on Internet webpages that are linked to through the 
        College Dashboard website for the most recent academic 
        year for which satisfactory data is available the 
        following information with respect to each institution 
        of higher education that participates in a program 
        under title IV:
                  (A) Enrollment.--
                          (i) The percentages of male and 
                        female undergraduate students enrolled 
                        at the institution.
                          (ii) The percentages of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution--
                                  (I) full-time; and
                                  (II) less than full-time.
                          (iii) In the case of an institution 
                        other than an institution that provides 
                        all courses and programs through 
                        distance education, of the 
                        undergraduate students enrolled at the 
                        institution--
                                  (I) the percentage of such 
                                students who are from the State 
                                in which the institution is 
                                located;
                                  (II) the percentage of such 
                                students who are from other 
                                States; and
                                  (III) the percentage of such 
                                students who are international 
                                students.
                          (iv) The percentages of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution, 
                        disaggregated by--
                                  (I) race and ethnic 
                                background;
                                  (II) classification as a 
                                student with a disability;
                                  (III) recipients of a Federal 
                                Pell Grant;
                                  (IV) recipients of assistance 
                                under a tuition assistance 
                                program conducted by the 
                                Department of Defense under 
                                section 1784a or 2007 of title 
                                10, United States Code, or 
                                other authorities available to 
                                the Department of Defense or 
                                veterans' education benefits 
                                (as defined in section 480); 
                                and
                                  (V) recipients of a Federal 
                                student loan under title IV.
                  (B) Completion.--The information required 
                under paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated by--
                          (i) recipients of a Federal Pell 
                        Grant;
                          (ii) recipients of a loan made under 
                        part D of title IV (other than a 
                        Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 
                        Loan) who did not receive a Federal 
                        Pell Grant;
                          (iii) individuals who did not receive 
                        a Federal Pell Grant or a loan made 
                        under part D of title IV (other than a 
                        Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 
                        Loan);
                          (iv) race and ethnic background;
                          (v) classification as a student with 
                        a disability; and
                          (vi) recipients of assistance under a 
                        tuition assistance program conducted by 
                        the Department of Defense under section 
                        1784a or 2007 of title 10, United 
                        States Code, or other authorities 
                        available to the Department of Defense 
                        or veterans' education benefits (as 
                        defined in section 480).
                  (C) Costs.--
                          (i) The cost of attendance for full-
                        time undergraduate students enrolled in 
                        the institution who live on campus.
                          (ii) The cost of attendance for full-
                        time undergraduate students enrolled in 
                        the institution who live off campus.
                          (iii) The cost of tuition and fees 
                        for full-time undergraduate students 
                        enrolled in the institution.
                          (iv) The cost of tuition and fees per 
                        credit hour or credit hour equivalency 
                        for undergraduate students enrolled in 
                        the institution less than full time.
                          (v) In the case of a public 
                        institution of higher education (other 
                        than an institution described in clause 
                        (vi)) and notwithstanding subsection 
                        (b)(1), the costs described in clauses 
                        (i) and (ii) for--
                                  (I) full-time students 
                                enrolled in the institution who 
                                are residents of the State in 
                                which the institution is 
                                located; and
                                  (II) full-time students 
                                enrolled in the institution who 
                                are not residents of such 
                                State.
                          (vi) In the case of a public 
                        institution of higher education that 
                        offers different tuition rates for 
                        students who are residents of a 
                        geographic subdivision smaller than a 
                        State and students not located in such 
                        geographic subdivision and 
                        notwithstanding subsection (b)(1), the 
                        costs described in clauses (i) and (ii) 
                        for--
                                  (I) full-time students 
                                enrolled at the institution who 
                                are residents of such 
                                geographic subdivision;
                                  (II) full-time students 
                                enrolled at the institution who 
                                are residents of the State in 
                                which the institution is 
                                located but not residents of 
                                such geographic subdivision; 
                                and
                                  (III) full-time students 
                                enrolled at the institution who 
                                are not residents of such 
                                State.
                  (D) Financial aid.--
                          (i) The average annual grant amount 
                        (including Federal, State, and 
                        institutional aid) awarded to an 
                        undergraduate student enrolled at the 
                        institution who receives financial aid.
                          (ii) The percentage of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution 
                        receiving Federal, State, and 
                        institutional grants, student loans, 
                        and any other type of student financial 
                        assistance known by the institution, 
                        provided publicly or through the 
                        institution, such as Federal work-study 
                        funds.
                          (iii) The cohort default rate (as 
                        defined in section 435(m)) for such 
                        institution.
                  (E) Faculty information.--
                          (i) The ratio of the number of course 
                        sections taught by part-time 
                        instructors to the number of course 
                        sections taught by full-time faculty, 
                        disaggregated by course sections 
                        intended primarily for undergraduate 
                        students and course sections intended 
                        primarily for graduate students.
                          (ii) The mean and median years of 
                        employment for part-time instructors.
          (3) Other data matters.--
                  (A) Completion data.--The Commissioner of 
                Education Statistics shall ensure that the 
                information required under paragraph (1)(E) 
                includes information with respect to all 
                students at an institution, including students 
                other than first-time, full-time students and 
                students who transfer to another institution, 
                in a manner that the Commissioner considers 
                appropriate.
                  (B) Adjustment of income categories.--The 
                Secretary may annually adjust the range of each 
                of the income categories described in paragraph 
                (1)(F) to account for a change in the Consumer 
                Price Index for All Urban Consumers as 
                determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics if 
                the Secretary determines an adjustment is 
                necessary.
          (4) Institutional comparison.--The Secretary shall 
        include on the College Dashboard website a method for 
        users to easily compare the information required under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) between institutions.
          (5) Updates.--
                  (A) Data.--The Secretary shall update the 
                College Dashboard website not less than 
                annually.
                  (B) Technology and format.--The Secretary 
                shall regularly assess the format and 
                technology of the College Dashboard website and 
                make any changes or updates that the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
          (6) Consumer testing.--
                  (A) In general.--In developing and 
                maintaining the College Dashboard website, the 
                Secretary, in consultation with appropriate 
                departments and agencies of the Federal 
                Government, shall conduct consumer testing with 
                appropriate persons, including current and 
                prospective college students, family members of 
                such students, institutions of higher 
                education, and experts, to ensure that the 
                College Dashboard website is usable and easily 
                understandable and provides useful and relevant 
                information to students and families.
                  (B) Recommendations for changes.--The 
                Secretary shall submit to the authorizing 
                committees any recommendations that the 
                Secretary considers appropriate for changing 
                the information required to be provided on the 
                College Dashboard website under paragraphs (1) 
                and (2) based on the results of the consumer 
                testing conducted under subparagraph (A).
          (7) Provision of appropriate links to prospective 
        students after submission of fafsa.--The Secretary 
        shall provide to each student who submits a Free 
        Application for Federal Student Aid described in 
        section 483 a link to the webpage of the College 
        Dashboard website that contains the information 
        required under paragraph (1) for each institution of 
        higher education such student includes on such 
        Application.
          (8) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary, in 
        consultation with each appropriate head of a department 
        or agency of the Federal Government, shall ensure to 
        the greatest extent practicable that any information 
        related to higher education that is published by such 
        department or agency is consistent with the information 
        published on the College Dashboard website.
          (9) References to college navigator website.--Any 
        reference in this Act to the College Navigator website 
        shall be considered a reference to the College 
        Dashboard website.
  [(j) Multi-Year Tuition Calculator.--
          [(1) Development of multi-year tuition calculator.--
        Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
        theHigher Education Opportunity Act, the Secretary 
        shall, in consultation with institutions of higher 
        education, financial planners, and other appropriate 
        experts, develop a multi-year tuition calculator to 
        help current and prospective students, families of such 
        students, and other consumers estimate the amount of 
        tuition an individual may pay to attend an institution 
        of higher education in future years.
          [(2) Calculation of multi-year tuition.--The multi-
        year tuition calculator described in paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                  [(A) allow an individual to select an 
                institution of higher education for which the 
                calculation shall be made;
                  [(B) calculate an estimate of tuition and 
                fees for each year of the normal duration of 
                the program of study at such institution by--
                          [(i) using the tuition and fees for 
                        such institution, as reported under 
                        subsection (i)(5)(A)(i), for the most 
                        recent academic year for which such 
                        data are reported; and
                          [(ii) determining an estimated annual 
                        percentage change for each year for 
                        which the calculation is made, based on 
                        the annual percentage change in such 
                        institution's tuition and fees, as 
                        reported under subsection 
                        (i)(5)(A)(iv), for the most recent 
                        three-year period for which such data 
                        are reported;
                  [(C) calculate an estimate of the total 
                amount of tuition and fees to complete a 
                program of study at such institution, based on 
                the normal duration of such program, using the 
                estimate calculated under subparagraph (B) for 
                each year of the program of study;
                  [(D) provide the individual with the option 
                to replace the estimated annual percentage 
                change described in subparagraph (B)(ii) with 
                an alternative annual percentage change 
                specified by the individual, and calculate an 
                estimate of tuition and fees for each year and 
                an estimate of the total amount of tuition and 
                fees using the alternative percentage change;
                  [(E) in the case of an institution that 
                offers a multi-year tuition guarantee program, 
                allow the individual to have the estimates of 
                tuition and fees described in subparagraphs (B) 
                and (C) calculated based on the provisions of 
                such guarantee program for the tuition and fees 
                charged to a student, or cohort of students, 
                enrolled for the duration of the program of 
                study; and
                  [(F) include any other features or 
                information determined to be appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
          [(3) Availability and comparison.--The multi-year 
        tuition calculator described in paragraph (1) shall be 
        available on the College Navigator website and shall 
        allow current and prospective students, families of 
        such students, and consumers to compare information and 
        estimates under this subsection for multiple 
        institutions of higher education.
          [(4) Disclaimer.--Each calculation of estimated 
        tuition and fees made using the multi-year tuition 
        calculator described in paragraph (1) shall be 
        accompanied by a clear and conspicuous notice--
                  [(A) stating that the calculation--
                          [(i) is only an estimate and not a 
                        guarantee of the actual amount the 
                        student may be charged;
                          [(ii) is not binding on the 
                        Secretary, the institution of higher 
                        education, or the State; and
                          [(iii) may change, subject to the 
                        availability of financial assistance, 
                        State appropriations, and other 
                        factors;
                  [(B) stating that the student must complete 
                the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
                described in section 483 in order to be 
                eligible for, and receive, an actual financial 
                aid award that includes Federal grant, loan, or 
                work-study assistance under title IV; and
                  [(C) including a link to the website of the 
                Department that allows students to access the 
                Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
                described in section 483.]
  [(k)] (e) Student Aid Recipient Survey.--
          (1) Survey required.--The Secretary, acting through 
        the Commissioner for Education Statistics, shall 
        conduct, on a State-by-State basis, a survey of 
        recipients of Federal student financial aid under title 
        IV--
                  (A) to identify the population of students 
                receiving such Federal student financial aid;
                  (B) to describe the income distribution and 
                other socioeconomic characteristics of 
                recipients of such Federal student financial 
                aid;
                  (C) to describe the combinations of aid from 
                Federal, State, and private sources received by 
                such recipients from all income categories;
                  (D) to describe the--
                          (i) debt burden of such loan 
                        recipients, and their capacity to repay 
                        their education debts; and
                          (ii) the impact of such debt burden 
                        on the recipients' course of study and 
                        post-graduation plans;
                  (E) to describe the impact of the cost of 
                attendance of postsecondary education in the 
                determination by students of what institution 
                of higher education to attend; and
                  (F) to describe how the costs of textbooks 
                and other instructional materials affect the 
                costs of postsecondary education for students.
          (2) Frequency.--The survey shall be conducted on a 
        regular cycle and not less often than once every four 
        years.
          (3) Survey design.--The survey shall be 
        representative of students from all types of 
        institutions, including full-time and part-time 
        students, undergraduate, graduate, and professional 
        students, and current and former students.
          (4) Dissemination.--The Commissioner for Education 
        Statistics shall disseminate to the public, in printed 
        and electronic form, the information resulting from the 
        survey.
  [(l) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.]

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