119th Congress · introduced in the Senate · May 1, 2025
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (May 1, 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Education
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in Senate (May 1, 2025)
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025
This bill requires standardized financial aid terminology and offer forms.
Specifically, the Department of Education (ED) must develop standard terminology and a format for financial aid offer forms based on recommendations from representatives of certain groups, including students, veterans, and institutions of higher education (IHEs).
The consumer-friendly form must include specified details and disclosures, including the estimated cost of attendance, the net price that a student or family is estimated to pay, and the terms and conditions of financial aid.
In addition, ED must (1) test the form with representatives of students, students' families, IHEs, secondary school and postsecondary counselors, and nonprofit consumer groups; and (2) use the results to develop the final form.
Each IHE that participates in federal student aid programs must (1) use the standard form when offering financial aid to students, and (2) use the standard terminology and definitions developed by ED for all communications related to financial aid offers.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
24 citations.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$420,000
Spent on own lobbying
…n Executive Order 14279-Reforming Accreditation To Strengthen Higher Education, Accreditation related issues H.R.8476, No Antisemitism in Education Act of 2026 S.1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act H.R.6392/S.3747, Home School Graduation Recognition Act Career and Technical Education related issues Higher Educat…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$60,639
Spent on own lobbying
…Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act H.R. 6574 Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act H.R. 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 S. 3589 Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2025 S. 4097 State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
SLM CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: SLM CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$220,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ll provisions); H.R. 6502, "The College Financial Clarity Act"(all provisions).S.4097, The State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act (all provisions); S. 3153 & S. 1558, The Understanding the True Cost of College Act (all provisions).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Education
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Verification Efficiency Act, all titles; H.R. 6498, Student Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 6502, College Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 3153, s. 1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act, all titles; S. 4435, Improving Financial Aid Offers for Students Act, all titles. Senate; S. 4578, "Gateway to Car…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A · lobbying firm or registrant: CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Education
$100,000
Spent on own lobbying
…y Act of 2025 H.R. 6502 College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025 H.R. 1174 Ensuring Distance Education Act H.R. 1176 Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act S. 1558 / H.R. 3153 Understanding the True Cost of College Act S. 1559 / H.R. 3298 Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act H.R. 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Education
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…regarding Princeton's financial aid and transfer programs Discussions regarding student access, completion & value Discussions regarding accreditation reform (S.1558/H.R.3153) Understanding the True Cost of College Act - All Support for the Institute of Eduction Sciences (IES) and the College Scorecard
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES · lobbying firm or registrant: ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 29, 2026 · issue area: Education
$10,000
Spent on own lobbying
…and technical education centers in developing immersive technology education and training services programs for workforce development, and for other purposes. S. 1558 - Understanding the True Cost of College Act - A bill to create a universal financial aid offer form and standardize terms used to describe financial aid to al…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…tion Act of 2026 S.3010, 21st Century Dyslexia Act S.3589, Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act (RISE Act) Students Not Profits Act (not yet introduced) S.1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act H.R.6392/S.3747, Home School Graduation Recognition Act Career-Tech Education, Experiment learning H.R. 7340, Rebui…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$37,531
Spent on own lobbying
….R. 7891 Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026 H.R. 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 H.R. 7893 FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 S. 3589 Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2025 S. 880 Fair College Admissions for Students Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…regarding Princeton's financial aid and transfer programs Discussions regarding student access, completion & value Discussions regarding accreditation reform (S.1558/H.R.3153) Understanding the True Cost of College Act - All Support for the Institute of Eduction Sciences (IES) and the College Scorecard
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A · lobbying firm or registrant: CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$100,000
Spent on own lobbying
…y Act of 2025 H.R. 6502 College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025 H.R. 1174 Ensuring Distance Education Act H.R. 1176 Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act S. 1558 / H.R. 3153 Understanding the True Cost of College Act S. 1559 / H.R. 3298 Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act H.R. 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 18, 2026 · issue area: Education
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Verification Efficiency Act, all titles; H.R. 6498, Student Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 6502, College Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 3153, s. 1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act, all titles; S. 4435, Improving Financial Aid Offers for Students Act, all titles. Senate; H.R. 9414, S. 4859, "Pel…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Education
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
…nd "professional" student in implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Support for and implementation of the Understanding the True Cost of College Act, S. 1558
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUSINESS OFFICERS (NACUBO) · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUSINESS OFFICERS (NACUBO)
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 15, 2026 · issue area: Education
$30,000
Spent on own lobbying
…student loans. Discussed issues around various bills focusing on financial aid offers to students. Expressed support for the flexibility provided under S. 4435/S. 1558 compared to the more prescriptive versions in the House (H.Rs. 3153, 6502, 6498)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 27, 2026 · issue area: Education
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Verification Efficiency Act, all titles; H.R. 6498, Student Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 5902, College Financial Clarity Act, all titles; H.R. 3153, s. 1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act, all titles; legislation on financial aid offers, Senate
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES · lobbying firm or registrant: ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Education
$10,000
Spent on own lobbying
…and technical education centers in developing immersive technology education and training services programs for workforce development, and for other purposes. S. 1558 - Understanding the True Cost of College Act - A bill to create a universal financial aid offer form and standardize terms used to describe financial aid to al…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$490,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Act (not yet introduced) Literacy and the science of reading, including H.R.7890, Science of Reading Act S.4056, Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act S.1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act Unionization of higher education faculty and staff, generally Accreditation for institutions of higher education H.…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$77,042
Spent on own lobbying
…Act H.R. Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026 H.R. 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 H.R. 7893 FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 S. 3589 Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2025 S. 880 Fair College Admissions for Students Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A · lobbying firm or registrant: CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$125,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ersion Improvement Act H.R. 1391 Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025 S. 2511 College Transparency Act S. 1559 Know Before You Owe Student Loans Act S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act Informed Student Borrowing Act (draft text)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$240,000
Spent on own lobbying
…g student access, completion & value Discussion regarding accreditation reform Discussions regarding the implementation of the student loan provisions in H.R1 (S.1558/H.R.3153) Understanding the True Cost of College Act Support for the Institute of Eduction Sciences (IES) and the College Scorecard
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$110,000
Spent on own lobbying
…udent under consideration in implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Support for and implementation of the Understanding the True Cost of College Act, S. 1558
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE · lobbying firm or registrant: LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 17, 2026 · issue area: Education
$40,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R. 3153, S. 1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025, All provisions. H.R. 7892, No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026, All provisions. S. 4097, State Based Edu…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A · lobbying firm or registrant: CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$110,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ersion Improvement Act H.R. 1391 Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025 S. 2511 College Transparency Act S. 1559 Know Before You Owe Student Loans Act S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act Informed Student Borrowing Act (draft text)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A · lobbying firm or registrant: CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES A
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Education
$100,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ersion Improvement Act H.R. 1391 Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025 S. 2511 College Transparency Act S. 1559 Know Before You Owe Student Loans Act S. 1558 Understanding the True Cost of College Act Informed Student Borrowing Act (draft text)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing