IB 
Union Calendar No. 522 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3178 
[Report No. 114–674] 
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 
JULY 23, 2015 
Ms. FOXX (for herself, Mr. MESSER, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. KLINE, Mr. SCOTT of 
Virginia, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. HECK of Nevada, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, 
Ms. STEFANIK, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. 
DESAULNIER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
JULY 11, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. POLIS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, 
Mr. MACARTHUR, Mr. COFFMAN, Mr. CURBELO of Florida, Mr. THOMP-
SON of Pennsylvania, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. COURTNEY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. 
POCAN, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, and Mr. WILSON of South 
Carolina 
JULY 11, 2016 
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 July 23, 2015] 
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A BILL 
To simplify and streamline the information regarding institu-
tions of higher education made publicly available by the 
Secretary of Education, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Trans-
parency in Higher Education Act’’. 
SEC. 2. COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 132 of the Higher Edu-
cation 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 pre-
ceding 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 
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(5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesig-
nated) and inserting the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CONSUMER INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF TITLE IV INSTITUTION IN-
FORMATION.—The Secretary shall develop and make 
publicly available a website to be known as the ‘Col-
lege Dashboard website’ in accordance with this sec-
tion 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 partici-
pates in a program under title IV: 
‘‘(A) A link to the website of the institution. 
‘‘(B) An identification of the type of insti-
tution as one of the following: 
‘‘(i) A four-year public institution of 
higher education. 
‘‘(ii) A four-year private, nonprofit in-
stitution of higher education. 
‘‘(iii) A four-year private, for-profit 
institution of higher education. 
‘‘(iv) A two-year public institution of 
higher education. 
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‘‘(v) A two-year private, nonprofit in-
stitution of higher education. 
‘‘(vi) A two-year private, for-profit in-
stitution of higher education. 
‘‘(vii) A less than two-year public in-
stitution 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 applica-
ble. 
‘‘(D) The student-faculty ratio. 
‘‘(E) The percentage of degree-seeking or 
certificate-seeking undergraduate students en-
rolled at the institution who obtain a degree or 
certificate within— 
‘‘(i) 100 percent of the normal time for 
completion of, or graduation from, the pro-
gram in which the student is enrolled; 
‘‘(ii) 150 percent of the normal time 
for completion of, or graduation from, the 
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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 un-
dergraduate students receiving Federal student 
financial aid under title IV based on an income 
category selected by the user from a list con-
taining 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 stu-
dents 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 
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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 re-
cent 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 fe-
male 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 
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courses and programs through distance edu-
cation, of the undergraduate students en-
rolled at the institution— 
‘‘(I) the percentage of such stu-
dents who are from the State in which 
the institution is located; 
‘‘(II) the percentage of such stu-
dents who are from other States; and 
‘‘(III) the percentage of such stu-
dents 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 De-
fense under section 1784a or 2007 of 
title 10, United States Code, or other 
authorities available to the Department 
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of Defense or veterans’ education bene-
fits (as defined in section 480); and 
‘‘(V) recipients of a Federal stu-
dent loan under title IV. 
‘‘(B) COMPLETION.—The information re-
quired 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 Di-
rect 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 Di-
rect 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 Depart-
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ment of Defense or veterans’ education bene-
fits (as defined in section 480). 
‘‘(C) COSTS.— 
‘‘(i) The cost of attendance for full-time 
undergraduate students enrolled in the in-
stitution 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 in-
stitution less than full time. 
‘‘(v) In the case of a public institution 
of higher education (other than an institu-
tion described in clause (vi)) and notwith-
standing subsection (b)(1), the costs de-
scribed 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 lo-
cated; and 
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‘‘(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 tui-
tion rates for students who are residents of 
a geographic subdivision smaller than a 
State and students not located in such geo-
graphic 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 lo-
cated but not residents of such geo-
graphic 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 
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‘‘(A) COMPLETION
DATA.—The Commis-
sioner 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 stu-
dents who transfer to another institution, in a 
manner that the Commissioner considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(B) 
ADJUSTMENT
OF
INCOME
CAT-
EGORIES.—The Secretary may annually adjust 
the range of each of the income categories de-
scribed 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 Sec-
retary shall include on the College Dashboard website 
a method for users to easily compare the information 
required under paragraphs (1) and (2) between insti-
tutions. 
‘‘(5) UPDATES.— 
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‘‘(A) DATA.—The Secretary shall update the 
College Dashboard website not less than annu-
ally. 
‘‘(B) TECHNOLOGY AND FORMAT.—The Sec-
retary shall regularly assess the format and tech-
nology 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 de-
partments and agencies of the Federal Govern-
ment, shall conduct consumer testing with ap-
propriate persons, including current and pro-
spective 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 stu-
dents and families. 
‘‘(B) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES.— 
The Secretary shall submit to the authorizing 
committees any recommendations that the Sec-
retary considers appropriate for changing the in-
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formation required to be provided on the College 
Dashboard website under paragraphs (1) and (2) 
based on the results of the consumer testing con-
ducted under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(7) PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE LINKS TO PRO-
SPECTIVE STUDENTS AFTER SUBMISSION OF FAFSA.— 
The Secretary shall provide to each student who sub-
mits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid de-
scribed in section 483 a link to the webpage of the 
College Dashboard website that contains the informa-
tion required under paragraph (1) for each institu-
tion of higher education such student includes on such 
Application. 
‘‘(8) INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION.—The Sec-
retary, 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 pub-
lished by such department or agency is consistent 
with the information published on the College Dash-
board 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.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Higher Edu-
cation 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 Dash-
board 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, 
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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 para-
graph (6); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing 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 fol-
lowing 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 informa-
tion on costs and aid is provided and any 
other location that the institution considers 
appropriate; and 
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‘‘(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 un-
dergraduate student enrolled in the in-
stitution; and 
‘‘(IV) estimated cost of other ex-
penses (including personal expenses 
and transportation) for a full-time un-
dergraduate student enrolled in the in-
stitution. 
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‘‘(iii) Estimated total need-based grant 
aid and merit-based grant aid from Fed-
eral, State, and institutional sources that 
may be available to a full-time under-
graduate student. 
‘‘(iv) Percentage of the full-time under-
graduate students enrolled in the institution 
that received any type of grant aid de-
scribed in clause (iii). 
‘‘(v) The disclaimer described in para-
graph (6). 
‘‘(vi) In the case of a calculator that— 
‘‘(I) includes questions to estimate 
the eligibility of a student or prospec-
tive student for veterans’ education 
benefits (as defined in section 480) or 
educational benefits for active duty 
service members, such benefits are dis-
played on the results screen in a man-
ner that clearly distinguishes such ben-
efits from the grant aid described in 
clause (iii); or 
‘‘(II) does not include questions to 
estimate eligibility for the benefits de-
scribed in subclause (I), the results 
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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 cal-
culator 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 calcu-
lator 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 esti-
mate 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 author-
ized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to 
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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. 
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Union Calendar No. 522 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3178 
[Report No. 114–674] 
A BILL 
To simplify and streamline the information regard-
ing institutions of higher education made publicly 
available by the Secretary of Education, and for 
other purposes. 
JULY 11, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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