Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025
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This bill would require the Department of Education to expand school financial data and create a universal net price comparison tool.
What it does
This bill would require the Department of Education to expand the financial data available to students by adding program-specific information on costs, debt, and earnings to the College Scorecard website. It proposes the creation of a Universal Net Price Calculator that allows users to compare estimated costs across multiple institutions and fields of study in a downloadable format. Additionally, colleges and universities would be required to host either this federal calculator or a comparable version on their own websites to ensure transparency regarding the net price of attendance.
Who is affected
This bill primarily affects prospective and enrolled students by providing them with expanded financial data and comparison tools for institutions of higher education (IHEs). The Department of Education is required to implement these transparency measures, including updates to the College Scorecard and the creation of a Universal Net Price Calculator. Additionally, IHEs that participate in federal student aid programs are affected, as they must host compliant net price calculators on their own websites.
Key provisions
- Expansion of College Scorecard data. The Department of Education is required to update the College Scorecard website to include detailed data on costs, financial aid, student debt, repayment, and earnings for every program of study at participating institutions.
- Establishment of a Universal Net Price Calculator. The Department of Education must create and annually update a centralized website that allows users to compare multiple institutions and programs of study. This tool must provide net price estimates and offer data in a downloadable electronic format.
- Institutional net price calculator requirements. Higher education institutions must host either the Department of Education’s universal calculator or their own version on their websites. Any institution-specific calculator must include, at a minimum, the same data elements found in the federal version.
Fiscal impact
- H.R. 6498, Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025· As reported by the House Committee on Education and Workforce on January 21, 2026
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill modifies the administration of federal student aid programs by requiring the Department of Education to update the existing College Scorecard website with more granular data. It also establishes a new Universal Net Price Calculator that integrates with or replaces the individual net price calculators currently maintained by institutions of higher education.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to provide enrolled and prospective students with enhanced financial information regarding institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs. It intends to improve transparency by requiring more detailed data on costs, student debt, and post-graduation earnings through an updated College Scorecard and a new Universal Net Price Calculator.