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119-hr-2516119th CongressWALLET

Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would ban political litmus tests in accreditation for colleges and universities. It would also limit the Secretary of Education's authority to add accreditation criteria beyond what the Higher Education Act requires.

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  • Colleges and universities: Would not be forced by accrediting standards to support, oppose, or be rated on specific political or ideological viewpoints. Institutions could not be assessed on an alleged commitment to an ideology as a condition of accreditation.
  • Accrediting agencies and the Secretary of Education: Could not impose extraneous accreditation criteria unrelated to federal program participation. Meeting an agency's core standards that satisfy the statute would be enough for federal recognition even if the agency adopted extra rules for other purposes.
  • Religious institutions and religious accreditors: Retains the ability for faith-based accreditors to set and enforce religious standards and for institutions to have a religious mission, codes of conduct, or faith statements where allowed by law.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Ban on ideological litmus tests

This bill would prohibit accrediting standards from requiring, encouraging, or coercing a school to support or oppose a partisan, political, or ideological view. It would bar accreditors from assessing a school's commitment to any ideology or forcing a school to violate constitutional rights. Students, staff, and applicants would face less pressure from accreditation rules, while exceptions would allow treatment required by federal law or a court order and preserve the religious exception described elsewhere.

Limits on Secretary's accreditation rules

This bill would stop the Education Secretary from setting accreditation criteria that are not required by this part of the Higher Education Act. If a college meets its accreditor's core standards that assess the institution under subsection (a)(5), the college would still qualify for federal certification under section 102 and subpart 3 even if the accreditor has other unrelated standards. This would help keep students' access to federal student aid at institutions that meet core accreditation tests.

Protections for religious schools' standards

This bill would prevent accrediting standards from forbidding a school from having a religious mission or being controlled by a religious organization. It would let religious schools require statements of faith, codes of conduct, or oaths consistent with their mission. The bill would also say religious accreditors could keep enforcing faith-based standards for schools they choose to accredit, which could limit access for people who do not meet those religious requirements.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

UT • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 5/14/2025

  • Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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