Bipartisan Act Aims to Empower Students with Crucial Earnings Data
Bipartisan legislation, the Student Right to Know Before You Go Act (H.R. 1937 and S. 915), is making its way through Congress. Sponsored by Representative Andy Levin and Senator Elizabeth Warren, this act aims to empower students with crucial information about their education and future earnings.
The act would significantly expand the data provided to students and their families. It seeks to calculate and provide earnings metrics for each program, credential, school, and state of employment. This would enable students to compare schools and programs based on expected loan amounts and future earning potential.
To achieve this, the legislation would require schools to report additional student-level data to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). This move comes in response to the high graduate unemployment rate estimated at 7.9 percent in 2013, highlighting the need for better information on college outcomes. The bills await consideration from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
The Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, if passed, would update information reported under the Higher Education Act of 1965. It would provide students with a clearer picture of graduation rates, earnings outcomes, and student turnover. This legislation could significantly impact higher education, helping students make more informed decisions about their futures.
