I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4533 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make technical improvements 
to the Net Price Calculator system so that prospective students may 
have a more accurate understanding of the true cost of college. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2016 
Mr. CUMMINGS (for himself and Mr. HINOJOSA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make tech-
nical improvements to the Net Price Calculator system 
so that prospective students may have a more accurate 
understanding of the true cost of college. 
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 ‘‘Net Price Calculator 
Improvement Act’’. 
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‘‘(i) is clearly labeled as a ‘net price 
calculator’ and prominently, clearly, and 
conspicuously (in such size and contrast 
(such as shade) that it is readily noticeable 
and readable) posted in locations on the in-
stitution’s website where information on 
costs and aid is provided (such as financial 
aid, prospective students, or tuition and 
fees web pages); 
‘‘(ii) matches in size and font to the 
other prominent links on the primary 
menu; and 
‘‘(iii) may also be included on the in-
stitution’s compliance web page, which 
contains information relating to compliance 
with Federal, State, and local laws. 
‘‘(B) The results screen for the calculator 
specifies the following information: 
‘‘(i) Net price (as calculated under 
subsection (a)(3)) for the institution, which 
is the most visually prominent figure on 
the results screen. 
‘‘(ii) Cost of attendance, including— 
‘‘(I) tuition and fees; 
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‘‘(II) average annual cost of 
room and board for the institution for 
a first-time, full-time undergraduate 
student enrolled in the institution; 
‘‘(III) average annual cost of 
books and supplies for a first-time, 
full-time undergraduate student en-
rolled in the institution; and 
‘‘(IV) estimated cost of other ex-
penses (including personal expenses 
and transportation) for a first-time, 
full-time undergraduate student en-
rolled in the institution. 
‘‘(iii) 
Estimated 
total 
need-based 
grant aid and merit-based grant aid, from 
Federal, State, and institutional sources, 
that may be available to a first-time, full- 
time undergraduate student. 
‘‘(iv) Percentage of the first-time, full- 
time undergraduate students enrolled in 
the institution that received any type of 
grant aid described in clause (iii). 
‘‘(v) The disclaimer described in para-
graph (6). 
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‘‘(vi) In the case of a calculator 
that— 
‘‘(I) includes questions to esti-
mate a student’s (or prospective stu-
dent’s) eligibility for veterans’ edu-
cation benefits (as defined in section 
480) or educational benefits for active 
duty service members, such benefits 
are displayed on the results screen in 
a manner that clearly distinguishes 
them from the grant aid described in 
clause (iii); or 
‘‘(II) does not include questions 
to estimate eligibility for the benefits 
described in subclause (I), the results 
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 populates the calcu-
lator with data from not later than 2 academic 
years prior to the most recent academic year. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITION
ON
USE
OF
DATA
COL-
LECTED BY THE NET PRICE CALCULATOR.—A net 
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price calculator for an institution of higher edu-
cation 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 re-
quests contact information from users, clearly 
mark such requests as ‘optional’; and 
‘‘(C) prohibit any personally identifiable in-
formation provided by users from being sold or 
made available to third parties.’’. 
SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL NET PRICE CALCULATOR. 
Section 132(h) of the Higher of Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a(h)) is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) UNIVERSAL
NET
PRICE
CALCULATOR.— 
The Secretary may develop a universal net price cal-
culator that— 
‘‘(A) enables users to answer one set of 
questions and receive net prices for any institu-
tion that is required to have a net price calcu-
lator under this subsection; 
‘‘(B) provides the information required 
under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph 
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(4) for each institution for which a net price is 
being sought; and 
‘‘(C) is tested by students and families and 
evaluated by financial aid administrators and 
others in the field of postsecondary education 
before being finalized and publicly released.’’. 
Æ 
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