S1832-119

What This Bill Does

The College for All Act of 2025 creates a federal-state partnership to eliminate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for undergraduate students. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the federal government would cover 80% of costs (phasing to 75% after five years) while states cover the remainder. The bill also nearly doubles maximum Pell Grants and significantly increases funding for historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions.

Who Benefits and How

Students and families benefit most directly: undergraduate students at public community colleges would pay zero tuition regardless of income, while students at four-year public institutions from families earning up to $150,000 (single) or $300,000 (married) would also have tuition eliminated. Students would be eligible regardless of immigration status. Maximum Pell Grants would increase to $17,236 for students at public institutions and $10,808 at other institutions, nearly doubling current levels.

HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and minority-serving institutions receive substantial new funding: private nonprofit HBCUs and MSIs would receive grants to eliminate tuition for their students ($5,110 per 2-year student, $9,844 per 4-year student annually). Institutional support funding for these schools would double from $255 million to $510 million annually.

Tenure-track faculty benefit from requirements that institutions reduce reliance on adjunct professors and increase full-time, tenure-track positions.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the largest burden through substantial new appropriations across multiple programs, including the tuition elimination grants, increased Pell Grants, and institutional support funding.

State governments must maintain current higher education spending levels and contribute 20-25% of tuition elimination costs. States cannot reduce their existing financial support for higher education as a condition of receiving federal grants.

For-profit colleges are excluded from participating in the tuition elimination programs, potentially putting them at a competitive disadvantage compared to tuition-free public institutions.

Adjunct and contingent faculty may face reduced employment opportunities as institutions are required to shift toward tenure-track hiring.

Key Provisions

• Tuition-free public college: Eliminates tuition and required fees at public community colleges for all students and at public 4-year institutions for working and middle-class families (income up to $150,000/$300,000), starting in 2026-2027.

• Nearly doubled Pell Grants: Increases maximum Pell Grant from approximately $7,395 to $17,236 for students at public institutions and to $10,808 at other institutions, with annual inflation adjustments.

• HBCU and MSI support: Provides grants to private nonprofit HBCUs and minority-serving institutions to cover student tuition, plus doubles baseline institutional funding from $255 million to $510 million annually.

• Inclusive Student Success Grants: Authorizes $10 billion for evidence-based student support services including mentoring, advising, emergency aid, and child care, prioritizing underfunded institutions.

• TRIO program expansion: More than triples TRIO program funding from $900 million to $3 billion to support first-generation and low-income college students.

• Immigration-inclusive eligibility: Students are eligible for tuition benefits regardless of immigration status.