IB 

Union Calendar No. 396 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4983 

[Report No. 113–530] 

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 

JULY 17, 2014 

Additional sponsors: Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. 

MARCHANT, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana, Mr. THOMPSON of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. ROKITA, Mr. HECK of Nevada, Mr. BUCSHON, Mrs. 

CAPITO, Mr. ROTHFUS, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. SABLAN, and Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California 

JULY 17, 2014 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 26, 2014] 


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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. 


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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 Edu8 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a) is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (a)— 

10 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first11 time,’’; 

12 (B) in paragraph (3) in the matter pre13 ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘first14 time,’’; and 

15 (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘first16 time,’’; 

17 (2) in subsection (b)— 

18 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘first19 time’’; and 

20 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first21 time’’; 

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

23 and (l); 

24 (4) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (k) 

25 as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 


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1 (5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesig2 nated) and inserting the following new subsection: 

3 ‘‘(d) CONSUMER INFORMATION.— 

4 ‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF TITLE IV INSTITUTION IN5 FORMATION.—The Secretary shall develop and make 

6 publicly available a website to be known as the ‘Col7 lege Dashboard website’ in accordance with this sec8 tion and prominently display on such website, in 

9 simple, understandable, and unbiased terms for the 

10 most recent academic year for which satisfactory data 

11 are available, the following information with respect 

12 to each institution of higher education that partici13 pates in a program under title IV: 

14 ‘‘(A) A link to the website of the institution. 

15 ‘‘(B) An identification of the type of insti16 tution as one of the following: 

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

18 higher education. 

19 ‘‘(ii) A four-year private, nonprofit in20 stitution of higher education. 

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

22 institution of higher education. 

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

24 higher education. 


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1 ‘‘(v) A two-year private, nonprofit in2 stitution of higher education. 

3 ‘‘(vi) A two-year private, for-profit in4 stitution of higher education. 

5 ‘‘(vii) A less than two-year public in6 stitution of higher education. 

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

8 nonprofit institution of higher education. 

9 ‘‘(ix) A less than two-year private, for10 profit institution of higher education. 

11 ‘‘(C) The number of students enrolled at the 

12 institution— 

13 ‘‘(i) as undergraduate students; and 

14 ‘‘(ii) as graduate students, if applica15 ble. 

16 ‘‘(D) The student-faculty ratio. 

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

18 certificate-seeking undergraduate students en19 rolled at the institution who obtain a degree or 

20 certificate within— 

21 ‘‘(i) 100 percent of the normal time for 

22 completion of, or graduation from, the pro23 gram in which the student is enrolled; 

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

25 for completion of, or graduation from, the 


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1 program in which the student is enrolled; 

2 and 

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

4 for completion of, or graduation from, the 

5 program in which the student is enrolled. 

6 ‘‘(F) The average net price per year for un7 dergraduate students and a link to the net price 

8 calculator for such institution. 

9 ‘‘(G) The average Federal student loan debt 

10 incurred by an undergraduate student who has 

11 obtained a certificate or degree from the institu12 tion and who borrowed Federal student loans in 

13 the course of obtaining such certificate or degree. 

14 ‘‘(H) A link to national and regional data 

15 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting 

16 salaries in all major occupations. 

17 ‘‘(I) A link to the webpage of the institution 

18 containing campus safety data with respect to 

19 such institution. 

20 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—The Secretary 

21 shall publish on Internet webpages that are linked to 

22 through the College Dashboard website for the most re23 cent academic year for which satisfactory data is 

24 available the following information with respect to 


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1 each institution of higher education that participates 

2 in a program under title IV: 

3 ‘‘(A) ENROLLMENT.— 

4 ‘‘(i) The percentages of male and fe5 male undergraduate students enrolled at the 

6 institution. 

7 ‘‘(ii) The percentages of undergraduate 

8 students enrolled at the institution— 

9 ‘‘(I) full-time; and 

10 ‘‘(II) less than full-time. 

11 ‘‘(iii) Of the undergraduate students 

12 enrolled at the institution— 

13 ‘‘(I) the percentage of such stu14 dents who are from the State in which 

15 the institution is located; 

16 ‘‘(II) the percentage of such stu17 dents who are from other States; and 

18 ‘‘(III) the percentage of such stu19 dents who are international students. 

20 ‘‘(iv) The percentages of students en21 rolled at the institution, disaggregated by— 

22 ‘‘(I) race and ethnic background; 

23 ‘‘(II) classification as a student 

24 with a disability; 


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1 ‘‘(III) recipients of a Federal Pell 

2 Grant; 

3 ‘‘(IV) recipients of veterans’ edu4 cation benefits (as defined in section 

5 480); and 

6 ‘‘(V) recipients of a Federal stu7 dent loan. 

8 ‘‘(B) COMPLETION.—The information re9 quired under paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated 

10 by— 

11 ‘‘(i) recipients of a Federal Pell Grant; 

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

13 part D (other than a Federal Direct Unsub14 sidized Stafford Loan) who did not receive 

15 a Federal Pell Grant; 

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

17 Federal Pell Grant or a loan made under 

18 part D (other than a Federal Direct Unsub19 sidized Stafford Loan); 

20 ‘‘(iv) race and ethnic background; and 

21 ‘‘(v) classification as a student with a 

22 disability. 

23 ‘‘(C) COSTS.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) The cost of attendance for full-time 

2 undergraduate students enrolled in the in3 stitution who live on campus. 

4 ‘‘(ii) The cost of attendance for full5 time undergraduate students enrolled in the 

6 institution who live off campus. 

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

8 full-time undergraduate students enrolled in 

9 the institution. 

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

11 credit hour or credit hour equivalency for 

12 undergraduate students enrolled in the in13 stitution less than full time. 

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

15 of higher education and notwithstanding 

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

17 clauses (i) and (ii) for— 

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

19 the institution who are residents of the 

20 State in which the institution is lo21 cated; and 

22 ‘‘(II) full-time students enrolled in 

23 the institution who are not residents of 

24 such State. 


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1 ‘‘(vi) The net price for students receiv2 ing Federal student financial aid under 

3 title IV, disaggregated by the following in4 come categories for such students: 

5 ‘‘(I) $0 to $30,000. 

6 ‘‘(II) $30,001 to $48,000. 

7 ‘‘(III) $48,001 to $75,000. 

8 ‘‘(IV) $75,001 to $110,000. 

9 ‘‘(V) Over $110,000. 

10 ‘‘(D) FINANCIAL AID.— 

11 ‘‘(i) The average annual grant amount 

12 (including Federal, State, and institutional 

13 aid) awarded to an undergraduate student 

14 enrolled at the institution who receives fi15 nancial aid. 

16 ‘‘(ii) The percentage of undergraduate 

17 students enrolled at the institution receiving 

18 Federal, State, and institutional grants, 

19 student loans, and any other type of student 

20 financial assistance known by the institu21 tion, provided publicly or through the insti22 tution, such as Federal work-study funds. 

23 ‘‘(iii) The cohort default rate (as de24 fined in section 435(m)) for such institu25 tion. 


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1 ‘‘(E) FACULTY INFORMATION.— 

2 ‘‘(i) The ratio of the number of course 

3 sections taught by part-time instructors to 

4 the number of course sections taught by full5 time faculty, disaggregated by course sec6 tions intended primarily for undergraduate 

7 students and course sections intended pri8 marily for graduate students. 

9 ‘‘(ii) The mean and median years of 

10 employment for part-time instructors. 

11 ‘‘(3) OTHER DATA MATTERS.— 

12 ‘‘(A) COMPLETION DATA.—The Commis13 sioner of Education Statistics shall ensure that 

14 the information required under paragraph 

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

16 students at an institution, including students 

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

18 manner that the Commissioner considers appro19 priate. 

20 ‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT OF INCOME CAT21 EGORIES.—The Secretary may annually adjust 

22 the range of each of the income categories de23 scribed in paragraph (2)(C)(vi) to account for a 

24 change in the Consumer Price Index for All 

25 Urban Consumers as determined by the Bureau 


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1 of Labor Statistics if the Secretary determines 

2 an adjustment is necessary. 

3 ‘‘(4) INSTITUTIONAL COMPARISON.—The Sec4 retary shall include on the College Dashboard website 

5 a method for users to easily compare the information 

6 required under paragraphs (1) and (2) between insti7 tutions. 

8 ‘‘(5) UPDATES.— 

9 ‘‘(A) DATA.—The Secretary shall update the 

10 College Dashboard website not less than annu11 ally. 

12 ‘‘(B) TECHNOLOGY AND FORMAT.—The Sec13 retary shall regularly assess the format and tech14 nology of the College Dashboard website and 

15 make any changes or updates that the Secretary 

16 considers appropriate. 

17 ‘‘(6) CONSUMER TESTING.— 

18 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In developing and 

19 maintaining the College Dashboard website, the 

20 Secretary, in consultation with appropriate de21 partments and agencies of the Federal Govern22 ment, shall conduct consumer testing with ap23 propriate persons, including current and pro24 spective college students, family members of such 

25 students, institutions of higher education, and 


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1 experts, to ensure that the College Dashboard 

2 website is usable and easily understandable and 

3 provides useful and relevant information to stu4 dents and families. 

5 ‘‘(B) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES.— 

6 The Secretary shall submit to the authorizing 

7 committees any recommendations that the Sec8 retary considers appropriate for changing the in9 formation required to be provided on the College 

10 Dashboard website under paragraphs (1) and (2) 

11 based on the results of the consumer testing con12 ducted under subparagraph (A). 

13 ‘‘(7) PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE LINKS TO PRO14 SPECTIVE STUDENTS AFTER SUBMISSION OF

15 FAFSA.—The Secretary shall provide to each student 

16 that submits a Free Application for Federal Student 

17 Aid described in section 483 a link to the webpage of 

18 the College Dashboard website that contains the infor19 mation required under paragraph (1) for each insti20 tution of higher education such student includes on 

21 such Application. 

22 ‘‘(8) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—The Sec23 retary, in consultation with each appropriate head of 

24 a department or agency of the Federal Government, 

25 shall ensure to the greatest extent practicable that any 


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1 information related to higher education that is pub2 lished by such department or agency is consistent 

3 with the information published on the College Dash4 board website. 

5 ‘‘(9) REFERENCES TO COLLEGE NAVIGATOR

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

7 Navigator website shall be considered a reference to 

8 the College Dashboard website.’’. 

9 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Higher Edu10 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), as amended 

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

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

13 by striking ‘‘College Navigator’’ and inserting ‘‘Col14 lege Dashboard’’; and 

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

16 striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 

17 new paragraph: 

18 ‘‘(1) COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE.—The term 

19 ‘College Dashboard website’ means the College Dash20 board website required under subsection (d).’’. 

21 (c) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Education shall 

22 develop and publish the College Dashboard website required 

23 under section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

24 U.S.C. 1015a), as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of 


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1 this section, not later than one year after the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act. 

3 (d) COLLEGE NAVIGATOR WEBSITE MAINTENANCE.— 

4 The Secretary shall maintain the College Navigator website 

5 required under section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 

6 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as in effect the day before the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, in the manner required under 

8 the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on such day, 

9 until the College Dashboard website referred to in subsection 

10 (c) is complete and publicly available on the Internet. 

11 SEC. 3. NET PRICE CALCULATORS. 

12 Subsection (c) of section 132 of the Higher Education 

13 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as redesignated by section 

14 2(a)(4) of this Act, is amended— 

15 (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para16 graph (6); and 

17 (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol18 lowing new paragraphs: 

19 ‘‘(4) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR NET PRICE

20 CALCULATORS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

21 of the enactment of the Strengthening Transparency 

22 in Higher Education Act, a net price calculator for 

23 an institution of higher education shall meet the fol24 lowing requirements: 

25 ‘‘(A) The link for the calculator shall— 


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1 ‘‘(i) be clearly labeled as a net price 

2 calculator and prominently, clearly, and 

3 conspicuously posted in locations on the 

4 website of such institution where informa5 tion on costs and aid is provided and any 

6 other location that the institution considers 

7 appropriate; and 

8 ‘‘(ii) match in size and font to the 

9 other prominent links on the webpage where 

10 the link for the calculator is displayed. 

11 ‘‘(B) The webpage displaying the results for 

12 the calculator shall specify at least the following 

13 information: 

14 ‘‘(i) The net price (as calculated under 

15 subsection (a)(2)) for such institution, 

16 which shall be the most visually prominent 

17 figure on the results screen. 

18 ‘‘(ii) Cost of attendance, including— 

19 ‘‘(I) tuition and fees; 

20 ‘‘(II) average annual cost of room 

21 and board for the institution for a full22 time undergraduate student enrolled in 

23 the institution; 

24 ‘‘(III) average annual cost of 

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1 dergraduate student enrolled in the in2 stitution; and 

3 ‘‘(IV) estimated cost of other ex4 penses (including personal expenses 

5 and transportation) for a full-time un6 dergraduate student enrolled in the in7 stitution. 

8 ‘‘(iii) Estimated total need-based grant 

9 aid and merit-based grant aid from Fed10 eral, State, and institutional sources that 

11 may be available to a full-time under12 graduate student. 

13 ‘‘(iv) Percentage of the full-time under14 graduate students enrolled in the institution 

15 that received any type of grant aid de16 scribed in clause (iii). 

17 ‘‘(v) The disclaimer described in para18 graph (6). 

19 ‘‘(vi) In the case of a calculator that— 

20 ‘‘(I) includes questions to estimate 

21 the eligibility of a student or prospec22 tive student for veterans’ education 

23 benefits (as defined in section 480) or 

24 educational benefits for active duty 

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1 played on the results screen in a man2 ner that clearly distinguishes such ben3 efits from the grant aid described in 

4 clause (iii); or 

5 ‘‘(II) does not include questions to 

6 estimate eligibility for the benefits de7 scribed in subclause (I), the results 

8 screen indicates that certain students 

9 (or prospective students) may qualify 

10 for such benefits and includes a link to 

11 information about such benefits. 

12 ‘‘(C) The institution shall populate the cal13 culator with data from not later than 2 aca14 demic years prior to the most recent academic 

15 year. 

16 ‘‘(5) PROHIBITION ON USE OF DATA COLLECTED

17 BY THE NET PRICE CALCULATOR.—A net price calcu18 lator for an institution of higher education shall— 

19 ‘‘(A) clearly indicate which questions are 

20 required to be completed for an estimate of the 

21 net price from the calculator; 

22 ‘‘(B) in the case of a calculator that requests 

23 contact information from users, clearly mark 

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1 mate of the net price from the calculator without 

2 requiring users to enter such information; and 

3 ‘‘(C) prohibit any personally identifiable 

4 information provided by users from being sold or 

5 made available to third parties.’’. 

6 SEC. 4. FUNDING. 

7 (a) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.—Of the amount author8 ized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to 

9 maintain the College Navigator website, $1,000,000 shall be 

10 available to carry out this Act and the amendments made 

11 by this Act. 

12 (b) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No funds 

13 are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out 

14 this Act or the amendments made by this Act. 


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Union Calendar No. 396 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4983 

[Report No. 113–530] 

A BILL 

To simplify and streamline the information regardother purposes. available by the Secretary of Education, and for ing institutions of higher education made publicly 

JULY 17, 2014 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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