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119-hr-10672119th CongressWALLET

America’s College Promise Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

Introduced

Summary

Tuition-free community college through a federal‑state partnership. This bill would create a federal grant program to set tuition and fees to $0 for eligible students at public community colleges and eligible Tribal Colleges and Universities, and it would fund complementary student success grants and targeted grants to minority‑serving institutions.

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  • Students and families: Eligible students could attend participating public community colleges with tuition and fees set to $0; the federal share of funding starts at 100% for 2027–2028 and phases down to 80% by 2031–2032.
  • States and Tribal Colleges: States must meet maintenance‑of‑effort rules and provide a rising State share that begins at 0% for 2027–2028 and reaches 20% by 2031–2032; Tribal Colleges get special rules that can provide 100% federal coverage initially.
  • HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs: Establishes grants to four‑year minority‑serving institutions to boost transfer and completion, with appropriations growing from about $98.1 million in FY2027 to roughly $2.5 billion by FY2036.

*This bill would increase federal spending, authorizing about $1.0 billion annually for the Student Success Fund starting FY2027 and larger multi‑year appropriations for HBCU/TCU/MSI grants that rise to roughly $2.5 billion by FY2036.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Student Success Fund grants

If enacted, the Student Success Fund would authorize $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding year to award competitive grants for evidence‑based reforms and student supports that improve enrollment, retention, transfer, completion, and labor outcomes. The Secretary would prioritize proposals serving underserved students. Recipients must provide non‑Federal matches that rise from 25% in years 1–4 to 100% in year 9 and later, though the Secretary may modify or waive matching for Tribal Colleges. Grants could use up to 5% for administration and could not fund endowments, athletics, or sectarian instruction. Recipients must report progress in year 3 and every two years after.

Tuition-free community college help

If enacted, the bill would provide federal grants to make tuition and fees $0 for eligible students at participating public community colleges and eligible Tribal colleges starting with the 2027–2028 award year. The federal per‑student base would be set using the 2027–2028 average in‑state community college tuition and fees and then rise each year by the lesser of CPI or 3%. The federal share for States would fall from 100% in 2027–2028 to 80% in 2031–2032 and later. Grants could only waive tuition up to an institution's per‑student rebate (capped at the national average public 4‑year tuition) and only for a student's first 60 credits. Eligible students would generally need to be enrolled at least half‑time, meet in‑state residency rules (including some who qualify for resident tuition but not due to immigration status), and U.S. citizens would need to file a FAFSA. Participating colleges would also plan and provide supports such as advising, childcare, transportation, emergency aid, and help accessing benefits.

State funding and alignment rules

If enacted, States would have to provide a rising State share for the tuition‑free program: 0% in 2027–2028, 5% in 2028–2029, 10% in 2029–2030, 15% in 2030–2031, and 20% in 2031–2032 and later. States must maintain per‑FTE higher education funding, operating support for public four‑year institutions, and need‑based aid at or above their prior three‑year averages. States must also plan and certify high‑school to college alignment and improved transfer pathways within three years (or explain and certify within five years). The bill would let qualifying States request relief from these requirements if unemployment meets listed tiers; the Secretary could adjust Federal and State shares under those tiers, including making the Federal share 100% and the State share 0% for specified years under the highest tier.

Grants to minority-serving colleges

If enacted, the bill would fund grants to eligible HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and other minority‑serving institutions to boost bachelor's enrollment and completion and strengthen transfer pathways from community colleges. Eligible institutions generally must have at least 35% low‑income students and commit to evidence‑based reforms. Initial grants would use an institution's per‑student rebate times its count of eligible students, and per‑student rebates could not rise by more than 3% after the first program year and would be capped at the national average public 4‑year tuition. Actual awards would depend on amounts appropriated.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

AZ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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