Bills · S 1558
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1558Education
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025
INTRO MAY 1· LAST ACTION MAY 1
READING
16MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
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-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it tackles a major source of confusion and stress for students and families: the complex and often misleading financial aid offers they receive. Currently, it's very difficult to compare aid packages from different schools, leading to poor financial decisions and potentially higher student loan debt.
If this bill passes, it would bring much-needed transparency to college costs, allowing students and families to make truly informed decisions about where to attend college and how much debt to take on. If it doesn't pass, the current confusing system would persist, continuing to make it hard for people to understand the actual 'out-of-pocket' cost of higher education, potentially leading to more surprises and financial struggles after enrollment.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of Education to develop a single, standard financial aid offer form and common language for all colleges to use.
This ensures consistency across institutions, making it easier for students and families to compare offers.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that the standard form clearly lists all estimated direct and indirect costs, grants, scholarships, and federal loan information.
This provides a comprehensive and transparent view of all expenses and aid components.
PROVISION 03
Requires the form to include a clear 'net price' calculation, showing the estimated cost after grants and scholarships are applied.
This helps students quickly understand their out-of-pocket expenses without needing to do complex calculations.
PROVISION 04
Stipulates that loan information must be clearly labeled as 'loan,' disclose repayment requirements, and link to repayment calculators.
This helps students understand the long-term commitment and potential costs associated with borrowing money.
PROVISION 05
Requires the form to include details on how to accept, adjust, or decline aid, along with contact information for financial aid assistance.
This streamlines the aid acceptance process and ensures students know where to get help with questions.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
R· Iowa
YRS IN OFFICE
51
BILLS LED
92
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 67%
DEM 2 REP 1 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 1558
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 1558Education
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025
INTRODUCED MAY 1, 2025· LAST ACTION MAY 1, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
16 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
