H.R. 3178: Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act

114th Congress · introduced 2015-07-23 · Education · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-07-23 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act

Plain summary

Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends title I (General Provisions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify consumer information disclosure requirements related to college costs and student characteristics. Specifically, it eliminates the existing restriction that limits calculations of cost of attendance, net price, and tuition and fees to first time students only. Additionally, it eliminates provisions that require the Department of Education (ED) to make publicly available the following: (1) college affordability and transparency lists, (2) annual summaries of institutional reports, (3) state higher education spending charts; and (4) a multi-year tuition and fees calculator. (Sec. 3) The bill directs ED to develop, annually update, and make publicly available a College Dashboard website to replace the College Navigator website. It revises the consumer information ED must make publicly available regarding an institution that participates in federal student aid programs under title IV (Student Assistance). ED must also publish and link to the College Dashboard website additional information regarding student enrollment, completion rates, costs, use of financial aid, and faculty. The bill establishes certain minimum requirements for an institution's net price calculator, including website location and information provided. Sale or distribution of personally identifiable information collected by a net price calculator is prohibited. (Sec. 4) No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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A “Nay” vote

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] · 25 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3178, Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act (2016-07-05)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr3178.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr3178 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114