Press Releases

Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Secretary of the House Republican Conference Lisa McClain (R-MI) reintroduced H.R. 1311, the College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act for the 118th Congress. The legislation makes the college shopping process more consumer friendly following the GAO’s findings that the majority of colleges and universities misled students and families about the true cost of attendance.
 
"Postsecondary institutions should not be allowed to skirt around necessary transparency. Prospective students and their families deserve to have all the information they need to make informed decisions throughout the college shopping process—especially how much their degree will cost and their options for financing it,” said Chairwoman Foxx. “I’m proud to introduce the College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act alongside Representative McClain to ensure that financial aid offers are clear and information about college costs are readily available so that student and parent choice are maximized."
 
"Students deserve transparency when it comes to the financial burdens of higher education, and colleges have no excuse for not providing it,” said Rep. McClain. “The GAO report shows shocking proof of colleges underestimating costs by tens of thousands of dollars, leaving students blindsided with the price tag. I am disgusted at the findings of this report, and I will not allow it to go unanswered. Students should never be responsible for footing a bill they don’t even know exists."
 
To read the GAO report, click here. 
To read the bill text, click here. 
To read the bill summary, click here. 
To read the bill fact sheet, click here. 
 
Background: In 2022, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined whether students were receiving accurate information on expected costs from their prospective colleges and universities. It found that nearly half of colleges and universities are packaging loans in ways that mislead students about what they are obligated to pay. For example, one institution presented its aid offer to a low-income student claiming out-of-pocket costs would be $350 for the academic year; however, this estimate was off by more than $47,000.

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