Bills · S 1557
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1557Education
Net Price Calculator Improvement Act
INTRO MAY 1· LAST ACTION MAY 1
READING
8MIN
COSPONSORS
3
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because college affordability is a major concern for many American families, and understanding the true cost of higher education can be confusing. Currently, the quality and clarity of net price calculators vary widely among institutions, making it hard for students to accurately compare what they might actually pay. By setting clear standards, this bill aims to bring consistency and transparency to these tools.
If this bill becomes law, students and parents will have a much clearer picture of college costs upfront, including all expenses and potential grant aid, before they even apply. This increased transparency can help families make more informed decisions, choose schools that are a better financial fit, and potentially reduce the burden of student loan debt. If the bill doesn't pass, the existing system of varied and sometimes unclear net price calculators would continue, leaving many families to navigate complex financial information without consistent tools.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires college net price calculators to be prominently and clearly displayed on relevant sections of the institution's website.
This ensures students can easily find and access the tool needed to estimate their college costs.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that calculator results screens provide a detailed breakdown of costs (tuition, fees, room, board, books, other expenses) and estimated grant aid from all sources, disaggregated by academic year.
This offers a comprehensive and clear understanding of a student's potential financial obligation and available free money, rather than just a single net price.
PROVISION 03
Establishes privacy protections for users, prohibiting the sale of personally identifiable information and requiring requests for contact details to be optional.
This safeguards student data and prevents colleges from using the calculators as a tool for unsolicited marketing or data sharing.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes the Department of Education to develop a universal net price calculator that allows users to compare estimated net prices for multiple institutions with one set of inputs.
This could significantly simplify the process of comparing college costs across different schools, making financial comparisons more efficient for students.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
R· Iowa
YRS IN OFFICE
51
BILLS LED
92
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 3 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAY 1
Introduced in Senate
MAY 1
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 1557
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMay 1, 2025
Last actionMay 1, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAY 1, 2025
Senate BillS 1557Education
Net Price Calculator Improvement Act
INTRODUCED MAY 1, 2025· LAST ACTION MAY 1, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
8 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
