College for All Act of 2025
Senate Bill Would Make Community College Free, Double Pell Grants to $14,790
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill aims to make public community colleges and trade schools tuition-free for all students. For public four-year universities, tuition and fees would be eliminated for students from single-parent households earning up to $150,000 or married households earning up to $300,000.
- It would double the maximum Pell Grant to $14,790 for students at public and Tribal colleges. These grants would also become fully tax-free, even when used for living expenses like food and housing, and eligibility would expand to include 'Dreamer' students and those with DACA status.
- To fund this, the federal government would initially pay 100% of the costs in 2026, eventually settling into a permanent 80/20 cost-sharing split with participating states. States must agree to maintain their own education spending and ensure that at least 75% of classes are taught by tenured or tenure-track faculty.
- The plan includes a specific grant program to eliminate tuition and fees at private, nonprofit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions for students from families earning under the $300,000 income limit.
- Beyond tuition, the bill provides $10 billion for 'Inclusive Student Success Grants' to help colleges improve graduation rates through better advising, mental health services, and tutoring, specifically targeting low-income students and students of color.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The student success grants specifically identify 'student parents' as a priority population for improved outcomes. Pregnant students and student parents would benefit from enhanced support services, advising, case management, and emergency financial aid designed to help them stay in school and complete their degrees.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesSanders, Jayapal Introduce New "College for All Act" to Eliminate Tuition for Most Students
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced legislation to make public colleges tuition-free for 95% of students. The bill doubles the maximum Pell Grant to $14,790, expands eligibility to DACA students, and creates a $10 billion grant program for underfunded public institutions.

As Trump Targets Higher Education, Sanders to Unveil College for All Act
Sen. Bernie Sanders' new legislation aims to transform higher education by making public colleges tuition-free for working families. The bill includes a federal-state cost-sharing model and requires participating states to ensure at least 75% of classes are taught by tenured faculty.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
College for All Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(11)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.