GRAD Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for comprehensive student achievement information. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Graduation Reporting for Accuracy and Decision-Making Act GRAD Act 2. Consumer information about completion or graduation times (a) Transparency in college tuition for consumers Section 132(i)(1)(J) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015a(i)(1)(J) (J) (i) For programs of study 4 years of length or longer— (I) the percentages of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); (II) the percentages of first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); (III) the percentages of non-first time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); and (IV) the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii). (ii) For programs of study less than 4 years— (I) the percentages of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); (II) the percentages of first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); (III) the percentages of non-first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); and (IV) the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii). (iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the times for completion or graduation are as follows: (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. (III) 200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program. (IV) 300 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program. (iv) In making publicly available the percentages described in this subparagraph, the Secretary shall display each percentage in a consistent manner and with equal visibility. . (b) Institutional and financial assistance information for students Section 485(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(a) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (L) and inserting the following: (L) each completion or graduation rate for each type of student and program described in clauses (i) and (ii) of section 132(i)(1)(J); ; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking within 150 percent of the normal time for completion of or graduation from the program within the time for completion or graduation described in section 132(i)(1)(J) applicable to such student and such program

Summary: Graduation Reporting for Accuracy and Decision-Making Act or the GRAD Act This bill expands consumer information disclosure requirements related to student completion or graduation rates at institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs. Currently, such IHEs must disclose the completion or graduation rate of first-time, full-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. This bill expands disclosure requirements to include the completion or graduation rates of non-first-time and half-time certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. The bill also sets forth new time periods for calculating the completion or graduation rates for programs of study that are less than four years.