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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 3543

Rep. Jayapal Introduces Bill to Make Public College Tuition-Free for Most Students

College for All Act of 2025

10 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill creates a federal-state partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees at all public community colleges for all eligible students regardless of income, and at public four-year universities for students from families earning up to $300,000 (or $150,000 for single/independent filers). The federal government covers 100% of costs in the first year, gradually shifting to an 80/20 federal-state split by year five.
  • The maximum Federal Pell Grant nearly doubles to $14,790 for students at eligible institutions, with annual cost-of-living adjustments going forward. Pell Grant funds can now be used for living expenses, not just tuition. The bill also makes Pell Grant income fully tax-free.
  • Undocumented students who came to the U.S. as children ("Dreamers"), DACA recipients, and those with Temporary Protected Status become eligible for Pell Grants and tuition-free college. The bill explicitly states eligible students include individuals "regardless of age or immigration status."

    From policy text

    “The term `eligible student' means an individual, regardless of age or immigration status, who has not obtained a baccalaureate degree or higher degree”
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  • Private nonprofit HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions receive federal grants to eliminate tuition for eligible students, with per-student funding of $11,610 at four-year schools and $5,110 at two-year schools. Annual institutional funding for these schools doubles from $255 million to $510 million.
  • States must maintain their higher education spending levels and ensure that at least 75% of instruction at public colleges is provided by tenure-track or tenured faculty within five years. Schools must also maintain a 1-to-150 ratio of disability services staff to registered students with disabilities.

    From policy text

    “provide an assurance that not later than 5 years after the first award year for which the grant is awarded, not less than 75 percent of instruction at public institutions of higher education in the State is provided by tenure-track or tenured faculty”
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  • The bill authorizes $10 billion for Student Success Grants that fund evidence-based programs like mental health counseling, academic advising, tutoring, and smaller class sizes, with priority given to helping students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students.

    From policy text

    “the Secretary shall give priority to eligible States that propose to use a significant share of grant funds to improve enrollment, retention, transfer, or completion rates or labor market outcomes among students with disparate outcomes”
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EducationTaxesImmigrationCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
May 21, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

May 21, 2025

Introduced in House

Related Bills

1 bill
S. 1832Identical bill

College for All Act of 2025

May 21 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

College for All Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 3543
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(64)
D: 64

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.