U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) in reintroducing the College Transparency Act (S.2511), a bipartisan and bicameral bill aimed at providing students and families with more reliable data to help them make informed decisions about higher education.
The legislation seeks to modernize how colleges report information by offering prospective students comprehensive details on graduation rates, job prospects, and earning potential across different programs and institutions. Current federal data systems do not include all students, which can leave gaps in the information available to families considering their educational options.
“College is a significant investment, and students deserve clear, reliable information to guide their choices,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “The College Transparency Act would provide them with valuable data on how different options affect future opportunities. I’ve long supported this sensible legislation that promotes transparency and accountability for the benefit of students, families, and employers.”
Senator Cassidy added: “The One Big Beautiful Bill made historic reforms to our broken higher education system, lowering college costs and increasing Americans’ access to quality education options. The College Transparency Act builds on that success by empowering students and families with information to make the best college decision so they can succeed.”
If enacted, S.2511 would improve both the availability and accuracy of key data points for evaluating degrees and institutions according to individual goals. The bill also aims to assist colleges and policymakers in improving educational outcomes while giving employers better insight into workforce development.
The recent One Big Beautiful Bill—signed into law by President Trump on July 4—introduced several measures designed to increase affordability in post-secondary education. These include allowing Pell Grants for short-term workforce training programs as well as enhancements to 529 savings accounts for family affordability. Additionally, it addressed financial aid penalties that previously affected students from farming or small business backgrounds by fixing the cash-poor, asset-rich penalty in federal student financial assistance applications.
Original cosponsors of S.2511 represent a broad coalition from both parties in the Senate: Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). In the House of Representatives, companion legislation was introduced by Mark Kelly (R-Pa.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
