I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4983 

To simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of higher 

education made publicly available by the Secretary of Education, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2014 

Ms. FOXX (for herself, Mr. MESSER, and Mr. KLINE) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of higher education made publicly available by the 

Secretary of Education, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Trans5 parency in Higher Education Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 132 of the Higher 

8 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a) is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (a)— 


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1 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first2 time,’’; 

3 (B) in paragraph (3) in the matter pre4 ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘first5 time,’’; and 

6 (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘first7 time,’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (b)— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘first10 time’’; and 

11 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first12 time’’; 

13 (3) by striking subsections (c) through (g), (j), 

14 and (l); 

15 (4) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and 

16 (k) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 

17 (5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesig18 nated) and inserting the following new subsection: 

19 ‘‘(d) CONSUMER INFORMATION.— 

20 ‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF TITLE IV INSTITUTION

21 INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall develop and 

22 make publicly available a website to be known as the 

23 ‘College Dashboard website’ in accordance with this 

24 section and prominently display on such website, in 

25 simple, understandable, and unbiased terms for the 


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1 most recent academic year for which satisfactory 

2 data are available, the following information with re3 spect to each institution of higher education that 

4 participates in a program under title IV: 

5 ‘‘(A) A link to the website of the institu6 tion. 

7 ‘‘(B) An identification of the type of insti8 tution as one of the following: 

9 ‘‘(i) A four-year public institution of 

10 higher education. 

11 ‘‘(ii) A four-year private, nonprofit in12 stitution of higher education. 

13 ‘‘(iii) A four-year private, for-profit 

14 institution of higher education. 

15 ‘‘(iv) A two-year public institution of 

16 higher education. 

17 ‘‘(v) A two-year private, nonprofit in18 stitution of higher education. 

19 ‘‘(vi) A two-year private, for-profit in20 stitution of higher education. 

21 ‘‘(vii) A less than two-year public in22 stitution of higher education. 

23 ‘‘(viii) A less than two-year private, 

24 nonprofit institution of higher education. 


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1 ‘‘(ix) A less than two-year private, 

2 for-profit institution of higher education. 

3 ‘‘(C) The number of students enrolled at 

4 the institution— 

5 ‘‘(i) as undergraduate students; and 

6 ‘‘(ii) as graduate students, if applica7 ble. 

8 ‘‘(D) The student-faculty ratio. 

9 ‘‘(E) The percentage of degree-seeking or 

10 certificate-seeking undergraduate students en11 rolled at the institution who obtain a degree or 

12 certificate within— 

13 ‘‘(i) the normal time for completion 

14 of, or graduation from, the program in 

15 which the student is enrolled; 

16 ‘‘(ii) 150 percent of the normal time 

17 for completion of, or graduation from, the 

18 program in which the student is enrolled; 

19 and 

20 ‘‘(iii) 200 percent of the normal time 

21 for completion of, or graduation from, the 

22 program in which the student is enrolled. 

23 ‘‘(F) The average net price per year for 

24 undergraduate students and a link to the net 

25 price calculator for such institution. 


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1 ‘‘(G) The average Federal student loan 

2 debt incurred by an undergraduate student who 

3 has obtained a certificate or degree from the in4 stitution and who borrowed Federal student 

5 loans in the course of obtaining such certificate 

6 or degree. 

7 ‘‘(H) The cohort default rate (as defined in 

8 section 435(m)) for such institution. 

9 ‘‘(I) A link to national and regional data 

10 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting 

11 salaries in all major occupations. 

12 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—The Sec13 retary shall publish on Internet webpages that are 

14 linked to through the College Dashboard website for 

15 the most recent academic year for which satisfactory 

16 data is available the following information with re17 spect to each institution of higher education that 

18 participates in a program under title IV: 

19 ‘‘(A) ENROLLMENT.— 

20 ‘‘(i) The percentages of male and fe21 male undergraduate students enrolled at 

22 the institution. 

23 ‘‘(ii) The percentages of under24 graduate students enrolled at the institu25 tion— 


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1 ‘‘(I) full-time; and 

2 ‘‘(II) less than full-time. 

3 ‘‘(iii) Of the undergraduate students 

4 enrolled at the institution— 

5 ‘‘(I) the percentage of such stu6 dents who are from the State in which 

7 the institution is located; 

8 ‘‘(II) the percentage of such stu9 dents who are from other States; and 

10 ‘‘(III) the percentage of such stu11 dents who are international students. 

12 ‘‘(iv) The percentages of students en13 rolled at the institution, disaggregated by 

14 race and ethnic background. 

15 ‘‘(v) The percentage of undergraduate 

16 students enrolled at the institution who are 

17 formally registered with the office of dis18 ability services of the institution (or the 

19 equivalent office) as students with disabil20 ities, except that if such percentage is 

21 three percent or less, the institution shall 

22 report ‘three percent or less’. 

23 ‘‘(vi) The percentage of students en24 rolled at the institution who are veterans 

25 (as defined in section 480). 


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1 ‘‘(B) COMPLETION.—The information re2 quired under paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated 

3 by— 

4 ‘‘(i) recipients of a Federal Pell 

5 Grant; 

6 ‘‘(ii) recipients of a loan made under 

7 part D (other than a Federal Direct Un8 subsidized Stafford Loan) who did not re9 ceive a Federal Pell Grant; and 

10 ‘‘(iii) persons who did not receive a 

11 Federal Pell Grant or a loan made under 

12 part D (other than a Federal Direct Un13 subsidized Stafford Loan). 

14 ‘‘(C) COSTS.— 

15 ‘‘(i) The cost of attendance for full16 time undergraduate students enrolled in 

17 the institution who live on campus. 

18 ‘‘(ii) The cost of attendance for full19 time undergraduate students enrolled in 

20 the institution who live off campus. 

21 ‘‘(iii) The cost of tuition and fees for 

22 full-time undergraduate students enrolled 

23 in the institution. 

24 ‘‘(iv) The cost of tuition and fees per 

25 credit hour or credit hour equivalency for 


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1 undergraduate students enrolled in the in2 stitution less than full time. 

3 ‘‘(v) In the case of a public institution 

4 of higher education and notwithstanding 

5 subsection (b)(1), the costs described in 

6 clauses (i) and (ii) for— 

7 ‘‘(I) full-time students enrolled in 

8 the institution who are residents of 

9 the State in which the institution is 

10 located; and 

11 ‘‘(II) full-time students enrolled 

12 in the institution who are not resi13 dents of such State. 

14 ‘‘(vi) The net price for students re15 ceiving Federal student financial aid under 

16 title IV, disaggregated by the following in17 come categories for such students: 

18 ‘‘(I) $0 to $30,000. 

19 ‘‘(II) $30,001 to $48,000. 

20 ‘‘(III) $48,001 to $75,000. 

21 ‘‘(IV) $75,001 to $110,000. 

22 ‘‘(V) Over $110,000. 

23 ‘‘(D) FINANCIAL AID.— 

24 ‘‘(i) The average annual amount of a 

25 Federal Pell Grant awarded to an underVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:29 Jul 02, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4983.IH H4983

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1 graduate student enrolled at such institu2 tion who receives a Federal Pell Grant. 

3 ‘‘(ii) The average annual amount of 

4 Federal student loans provided through 

5 such institution to an undergraduate bor6 rower enrolled at such institution. 

7 ‘‘(iii) The average annual grant 

8 amount (including Federal, State, and in9 stitutional aid) awarded to an under10 graduate student enrolled at the institution 

11 who receives financial aid. 

12 ‘‘(iv) The percentage of under13 graduate students enrolled at the institu14 tion receiving Federal, State, and institu15 tional grants, student loans, and any other 

16 type of student financial assistance known 

17 by the institution, provided publicly or 

18 through the institution, such as Federal 

19 work-study funds. 

20 ‘‘(v) The percentage of students en21 rolled at the institution receiving Federal 

22 Pell Grants. 

23 ‘‘(3) OTHER DATA MATTERS.— 

24 ‘‘(A) COMPLETION DATA.—The Commis25 sioner of Education Statistics shall ensure that 


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1 the information required under paragraph 

2 (1)(E) includes information with respect to all 

3 students at an institution, including students 

4 other than first-time, full-time students, in a 

5 manner that the Commissioner considers appro6 priate. 

7 ‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT OF INCOME CAT8 EGORIES.—The Secretary may annually adjust 

9 the range of each of the income categories de10 scribed in paragraph (2)(C)(vi) to account for a 

11 change in the Consumer Price Index for All 

12 Urban Consumers as determined by the Bureau 

13 of Labor Statistics if the Secretary determines 

14 an adjustment is necessary. 

15 ‘‘(4) INSTITUTIONAL COMPARISON.—The Sec16 retary shall include on the College Dashboard 

17 website a method for users to easily compare the in18 formation required under paragraphs (1) and (2) be19 tween institutions. 

20 ‘‘(5) UPDATES.— 

21 ‘‘(A) DATA.—The Secretary shall update 

22 the College Dashboard website not less than an23 nually. 

24 ‘‘(B) TECHNOLOGY AND FORMAT.—The 

25 Secretary shall regularly assess the format and 


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1 technology of the College Dashboard website 

2 and make any changes or updates that the Sec3 retary considers appropriate. 

4 ‘‘(6) CONSUMER TESTING.—In developing and 

5 maintaining the College Dashboard website, the Sec6 retary shall conduct consumer testing with appro7 priate persons, including current and prospective col8 lege students, family members of such students, in9 stitutions of higher education, and experts, to ensure 

10 that the College Dashboard website is usable and 

11 easily understandable. 

12 ‘‘(7) PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE LINKS TO

13 PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AFTER SUBMISSION OF

14 FAFSA.—The Secretary shall provide to each stu15 dent that submits a Free Application for Federal 

16 Student Aid described in section 483 a link to the 

17 webpage of the College Dashboard website that con18 tains the information required under paragraph (1) 

19 for each institution of higher education such student 

20 includes on such Application. 

21 ‘‘(8) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—The Sec22 retary, in consultation with each appropriate head of 

23 a department or agency of the Federal Government, 

24 shall ensure to the greatest extent practicable that 

25 any information related to higher education that is 


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1 published by such department or agency is con2 sistent with the information published on the College 

3 Dashboard website. 

4 ‘‘(9) REFERENCES TO COLLEGE NAVIGATOR

5 WEBSITE.—Any reference in this Act to the College 

6 Navigator website shall be considered a reference to 

7 the College Dashboard website.’’. 

8 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Higher Edu9 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), as amended 

10 by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended— 

11 (1) in section 131(h) (20 U.S.C. 1015(h)), by 

12 striking ‘‘College Navigator’’ and inserting ‘‘College 

13 Dashboard’’; and 

14 (2) in section 132(a) (20 U.S.C. 1015a(a)), by 

15 striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 

16 new paragraph: 

17 ‘‘(1) COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE.—The 

18 term ‘College Dashboard website’ means the College 

19 Dashboard website required under subsection (d).’’. 

20 (c) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Education 

21 shall develop and publish the College Dashboard website 

22 required under section 132 of the Higher Education Act 

23 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as amended by subsections 

24 (a) and (b) of this section, not later than one year after 

25 the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 (d) COLLEGE NAVIGATOR WEBSITE MAINTE2 NANCE.—The Secretary shall maintain the College Navi3 gator website required under section 132 of the Higher 

4 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as in effect 

5 the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, in 

6 the manner required under the Higher Education Act of 

7 1965, as in effect on such day, until the College Dash8 board website referred to in subsection (c) is complete and 

9 publicly available on the Internet. 

Æ 


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