[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4983 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4983

 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

                             June 26, 2014

   Ms. Foxx (for herself, Mr. Messer, and Mr. Kline) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                             the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of 
higher education made publicly available by the Secretary of Education, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Transparency in Higher 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. COLLEGE DASHBOARD WEBSITE.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 132 of the Higher Education 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 preceding 
                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
            (5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesignated) and 
        inserting the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Consumer Information.--
            ``(1) Availability of title iv institution information.--
        The Secretary shall develop and make publicly available a 
        website to be known as the `College Dashboard website' in 
        accordance with this section 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 participates in a program 
        under title IV:
                    ``(A) A link to the website of the institution.
                    ``(B) An identification of the type of institution 
                as one of the following:
                            ``(i) A four-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                            ``(ii) A four-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                            ``(iii) A four-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                            ``(iv) A two-year public institution of 
                        higher education.
                            ``(v) A two-year private, nonprofit 
                        institution of higher education.
                            ``(vi) A two-year private, for-profit 
                        institution of higher education.
                            ``(vii) A less than two-year public 
                        institution 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 applicable.
                    ``(D) The student-faculty ratio.
                    ``(E) The percentage of degree-seeking or 
                certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 
                the institution who obtain a degree or certificate 
                within--
                            ``(i) the normal time for completion of, or 
                        graduation from, the program in which the 
                        student is enrolled;
                            ``(ii) 150 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of, or graduation from, the 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 
                undergraduate students and a link to the net price 
                calculator for such institution.
                    ``(G) The average Federal student loan debt 
                incurred by an undergraduate student who has obtained a 
                certificate or degree from the institution and who 
                borrowed Federal student loans in the course of 
                obtaining such certificate or degree.
                    ``(H) The cohort default rate (as defined in 
                section 435(m)) for such institution.
                    ``(I) A link to national and regional data from the 
                Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting salaries in all 
                major occupations.
            ``(2) Additional information.--The Secretary shall publish 
        on Internet webpages that are linked to through the College 
        Dashboard website for the most recent 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 female 
                        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) Of the undergraduate students 
                        enrolled at the institution--
                                    ``(I) the percentage of such 
                                students who are from the State in 
                                which the institution is located;
                                    ``(II) the percentage of such 
                                students who are from other States; and
                                    ``(III) the percentage of such 
                                students who are international 
                                students.
                            ``(iv) The percentages of students enrolled 
                        at the institution, disaggregated by race and 
                        ethnic background.
                            ``(v) The percentage of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution who are 
                        formally registered with the office of 
                        disability services of the institution (or the 
                        equivalent office) as students with 
                        disabilities, except that if such percentage is 
                        three percent or less, the institution shall 
                        report `three percent or less'.
                            ``(vi) The percentage of students enrolled 
                        at the institution who are veterans (as defined 
                        in section 480).
                    ``(B) Completion.--The information required under 
                paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated by--
                            ``(i) recipients of a Federal Pell Grant;
                            ``(ii) recipients of a loan made under part 
                        D (other than a Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
                        Stafford Loan) who did not receive a Federal 
                        Pell Grant; and
                            ``(iii) persons who did not receive a 
                        Federal Pell Grant or a loan made under part D 
                        (other than a Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
                        Stafford Loan).
                    ``(C) Costs.--
                            ``(i) The cost of attendance for full-time 
                        undergraduate students enrolled in the 
                        institution 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 
                        institution less than full time.
                            ``(v) In the case of a public institution 
                        of higher education and notwithstanding 
                        subsection (b)(1), the costs described 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 
                                located; and
                                    ``(II) full-time students enrolled 
                                in the institution who are not 
                                residents of such State.
                            ``(vi) The net price for students receiving 
                        Federal student financial aid under title IV, 
                        disaggregated by the following income 
                        categories for such students:
                                    ``(I) $0 to $30,000.
                                    ``(II) $30,001 to $48,000.
                                    ``(III) $48,001 to $75,000.
                                    ``(IV) $75,001 to $110,000.
                                    ``(V) Over $110,000.
                    ``(D) Financial aid.--
                            ``(i) The average annual amount of a 
                        Federal Pell Grant awarded to an undergraduate 
                        student enrolled at such institution who 
                        receives a Federal Pell Grant.
                            ``(ii) The average annual amount of Federal 
                        student loans provided through such institution 
                        to an undergraduate borrower enrolled at such 
                        institution.
                            ``(iii) The average annual grant amount 
                        (including Federal, State, and institutional 
                        aid) awarded to an undergraduate student 
                        enrolled at the institution who receives 
                        financial aid.
                            ``(iv) The percentage of undergraduate 
                        students enrolled at the institution receiving 
                        Federal, State, and institutional grants, 
                        student loans, and any other type of student 
                        financial assistance known by the institution, 
                        provided publicly or through the institution, 
                        such as Federal work-study funds.
                            ``(v) The percentage of students enrolled 
                        at the institution receiving Federal Pell 
                        Grants.
            ``(3) Other data matters.--
                    ``(A) Completion data.--The Commissioner 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, in a manner that the Commissioner considers 
                appropriate.
                    ``(B) Adjustment of income categories.--The 
                Secretary may annually adjust the range of each of the 
                income categories described in paragraph (2)(C)(vi) 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 Secretary shall 
        include on the College Dashboard website a method for users to 
        easily compare the information required under paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) between institutions.
            ``(5) Updates.--
                    ``(A) Data.--The Secretary shall update the College 
                Dashboard website not less than annually.
                    ``(B) Technology and format.--The Secretary shall 
                regularly assess the format and technology of the 
                College Dashboard website and make any changes or 
                updates that the Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(6) Consumer testing.--In developing and maintaining the 
        College Dashboard website, the Secretary shall conduct consumer 
        testing with appropriate persons, including current and 
        prospective 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.
            ``(7) Provision of appropriate links to prospective 
        students after submission of FAFSA.--The Secretary shall 
        provide to each student that submits a Free Application for 
        Federal Student Aid described in section 483 a link to the 
        webpage of the College Dashboard website that contains the 
        information required under paragraph (1) for each institution 
        of higher education such student includes on such Application.
            ``(8) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary, 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 published by such department or agency is 
        consistent with the information published on the College 
        Dashboard 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.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Higher Education 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 Dashboard 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, until the College Dashboard website referred to in subsection (c) 
is complete and publicly available on the Internet.
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