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‘‘(G) Student enrollment information, in-
cluding information on the number and percent-
age of full-time and part-time students, the 
number and percentage of resident and non- 
resident students. 
‘‘(H) Faculty/student ratios. 
‘‘(I) Faculty information, including the 
total number of faculty and the percentage of 
faculty who are full-time employees of the insti-
tution and the percentage who are part-time. 
‘‘(J) Completion and graduation rates of 
undergraduate students, identifying whether the 
completion or graduation rates are from a 2- 
year or 4-year program of instruction and, in 
the case of a 2-year program of instruction, the 
percentage of students who transfer to 4-year 
institutions prior or subsequent to completion 
or graduation. 
‘‘(K) A link to the institution of higher 
education with information of interest to stu-
dents including mission, accreditation, student 
services (including services for students with 
disabilities), transfer of credit policies and, if 
appropriate, placement rates and other meas-
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ures of success in preparing students for entry 
into or advancement in the workforce. 
‘‘(L) Any additional information that the 
Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) DATA DISSEMINATION.—The Commissioner of 
Education Statistics shall collect and publish data sub-
mitted by each institution pursuant to this section, includ-
ing an institution’s college affordability index as calculated 
in accordance with subsection (e). Such data shall be se-
lected in accordance with the requirements of section 
131(b). Such data shall be presented in a form that is 
easily accessible and understandable and allows parents 
and students to make informed decisions based on the 
prices for typical first-time, full-time, full-year under-
graduate students and the institution’s rate of cost in-
crease. Such data may be presented in combination with 
forms and information from the Free Application for Fed-
eral Student Aid (FAFSA) website. The Secretary shall 
work with public and private entities to promote broad 
public awareness, particularly among middle and high 
school students and their families, of the information 
made available under this section, including by distribu-
tion to students who participate in or receive benefits from 
Federally funded education programs and other Federal 
programs determined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(e) COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY INDEX.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, on the 
basis of the data submitted under subsection (a), 
calculate a college affordability index for each insti-
tution of higher education submitting such data and 
shall make the index available in accordance with 
subsection (d) as soon as operationally possible on 
the Department’s college opportunity online Web 
site. Such index shall be presented in a manner so 
that the index for any institution is stated in a col-
umn or cell immediately adjacent to a column or cell 
containing the total tuition and fees of the institu-
tion. 
‘‘(2) CALCULATION OF INDEX.—The college af-
fordability index shall be equal to— 
‘‘(A) the percentage increase in the tuition 
and fees charged for a first-time, full-time, full- 
year undergraduate student between the first of 
the 3 most recent preceding academic years and 
the last of those 3 academic years; divided by 
‘‘(B) the percentage increase in the Con-
sumer Price Index—All Urban Consumers 
(Current Series) from July of the first of those 
3 academic years to July of the last of those 3 
academic years. 
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‘‘(f) OUTCOMES AND ACTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) RESPONSE FROM INSTITUTION.—Effective 
on June 30, 2010, an institution that has a college 
affordability index that exceeds 2.0 for any 3-year 
interval ending on or after that date shall provide a 
report to the Secretary, in such a form, at such 
time, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. Such report shall include— 
‘‘(A) a description of the factors contrib-
uting to the increase in the institution’s costs 
and in the tuition and fees charged to students; 
and 
‘‘(B) if determinations of tuition and fee 
increases are not within the exclusive control of 
the institution, a description of the agency or 
instrumentality of State government or other 
entity that participates in such determinations 
and the authority exercised by such agency, in-
strumentality, or entity. 
‘‘(2) QUALITY-EFFICIENCY TASK FORCES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED.—Each institution subject 
to paragraph (1) that has a college affordability 
index that is in the highest 5 percent of such 
indexes of all institutions subject to paragraph 
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(1) shall establish a quality-efficiency task force 
to review the operations of such institution. 
‘‘(B) MEMBERSHIP.—Such task force shall 
include administrators and business and civic 
leaders and may include faculty, students, 
trustees, parents of students, and alumni of 
such institution. 
‘‘(C) FUNCTIONS.—Such task force shall 
analyze institutional operating costs in compari-
son with such costs at other institutions within 
the class of institutions. Such analysis should 
identify areas where, in comparison with other 
institutions in such class, the institution oper-
ates more expensively to produce a similar re-
sult. Any identified areas should then be tar-
geted for in-depth analysis for cost reduction 
opportunities. 
‘‘(D) REPORT.—The results of the analysis 
by a quality-efficiency task force under this 
paragraph shall be included in the report to the 
Secretary under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) CONSEQUENCES
FOR
2-YEAR
CONTINU-
ATION
OF
FAILURE.—If the Secretary determines 
that the institution has failed to reduce the college 
affordability index below 2.0 for such 2 academic 
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years, the Secretary shall place the institution on an 
affordability alert status and shall make the infor-
mation regarding the institution’s failure available in 
accordance with subsection (d). 
‘‘(4) INFORMATION TO STATE AGENCIES.—Any 
institution that reports under paragraph (1)(A) that 
an agency or instrumentality of State government or 
other entity participates in the determinations of tui-
tion and fee increases shall, prior to submitting any 
information to the Secretary under this subsection, 
submit such information to, and request the com-
ments and input of, such agency, instrumentality, or 
entity. With respect to any such institution, the Sec-
retary shall provide a copy of any communication by 
the Secretary with that institution to such agency, 
instrumentality, or entity. 
‘‘(5) EXEMPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) RELATIVE PRICE EXEMPTION.—The 
Secretary shall, for any 3-year interval for 
which college affordability indexes are computed 
under paragraph (1), determine and publish the 
dollar amount that, for each class of institution 
described in paragraph (6) represents the max-
imum tuition and fees charged for a full-time 
undergraduate student in the least costly quar-
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tile of institutions within each such class during 
the last year of such 3-year interval. An institu-
tion that has a college affordability index com-
puted under paragraph (1) that exceeds 2.0 for 
any such 3-year interval, but that, on average 
during such 3-year interval, charges less than 
such maximum tuition and fees shall not be 
subject to the actions required by paragraph 
(3), unless such institution, for a subsequent 3- 
year interval, charges more than such maximum 
tuition and fees. 
‘‘(B) DOLLAR INCREASE EXEMPTION.—An 
institution that has a college affordability index 
computed under paragraph (1) that exceeds 2.0 
for any 3-year interval, but that exceeds such 
2.0 by a dollar amount that is less than $500, 
shall not be subject to the actions required by 
paragraph (3), unless such institution has a col-
lege affordability index for a subsequent 3-year 
interval that exceeds 2.0 by more than such dol-
lar amount. 
‘‘(6) CLASSES OF INSTITUTIONS.—For purposes 
of this subsection, the classes of institutions shall be 
those sectors used by the Integrated Postsecondary 
Education Data System, based on whether the insti-
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tution is public, nonprofit private, or for-profit pri-
vate, and whether the institution has a 4-year, 2- 
year, or less than 2-year program of instruction. 
‘‘(7) DATA REJECTION.—Nothing in this sub-
section shall be construed as allowing the Secretary 
to reject the data submitted by an individual institu-
tion of higher education. 
‘‘(g) INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.—Upon receipt 
of an institution’s report required under subsection (f), the 
Secretary shall make the information in the report avail-
able to the public in accordance with subsection (d) on 
the COOL website under subsection (b). 
‘‘(h) 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 required 
by this section in a timely and accurate manner, or for 
failing to otherwise cooperate with the National Center for 
Education Statistics regarding efforts to obtain data 
under subsections (c) and (j) and pursuant to the program 
participation agreement entered into under section 487. 
‘‘(i) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) GAO STUDY.—The Comptroller General 
shall conduct a study of the policies and procedures 
implemented by institutions in increasing the afford-
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ability of postsecondary education. Such study shall 
include information with respect to— 
‘‘(A) a list of those institutions that— 
‘‘(i) have reduced their college afford-
ability indexes; or 
‘‘(ii) are within the least costly quar-
tile of institutions within each class de-
scribed in subsection (f)(7); 
‘‘(B) policies implemented to stem the in-
crease in tuition and fees and institutional 
costs; 
‘‘(C) the extent to which room and board 
costs and prices changed; 
‘‘(D) the extent to which other services 
were altered to affect tuition and fees; 
‘‘(E) the extent to which the institution’s 
policies affected student body demographics and 
time to completion; 
‘‘(F) what, if any, operational factors 
played a role in reducing tuition and fees; 
‘‘(G) the extent to which academic quality 
was affected, and how; 
‘‘(H) if the institution is a public institu-
tion, the relationship between State and local 
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appropriations and the institution’s tuition and 
fees; 
‘‘(I) the extent to which policies and prac-
tices reducing costs and prices may be rep-
licated from one institution to another; and 
‘‘(J) other information as necessary to de-
termine best practices in increasing the afford-
ability of postsecondary education. 
‘‘(2) INTERIM
AND
FINAL
REPORTS.—The 
Comptroller General shall submit an interim and a 
final report regarding the findings of the study re-
quired by paragraph (1) to the appropriate author-
izing committees of Congress. The interim report 
shall be submitted not later than July 31, 2011, and 
the final report shall be submitted not later than 
July 31, 2013. 
‘‘(j) STUDENT AID RECIPIENT SURVEY.— 
‘‘(1) SURVEY REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 
conduct a survey of student aid recipients under title 
IV on a regular cycle and State-by-State basis, but 
not less than once every 4 years— 
‘‘(A) to identify the population of students 
receiving Federal student aid; 
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‘‘(B) to describe the income distribution 
and other socioeconomic characteristics of fed-
erally aided students; 
‘‘(C) to describe the combinations of aid 
from State, Federal, and private sources re-
ceived by students from all income groups; 
‘‘(D) to describe the debt burden of edu-
cational loan recipients and their capacity to 
repay their education debts, and the impact of 
such debt burden on career choices; 
‘‘(E) to describe the role played by the 
price of postsecondary education in the deter-
mination by students of what institution to at-
tend; and 
‘‘(F) to describe how the increased costs of 
textbooks and other instructional materials af-
fects the costs of postsecondary education to 
students. 
‘‘(2) SURVEY
DESIGN.—The survey shall be 
representative of full-time and part-time, under-
graduate, graduate, and professional and current 
and former students in all types of institutions, and 
designed and administered in consultation with the 
Congress and the postsecondary education commu-
nity. 
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