# 119-s-1558: Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025

119-s-1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-20).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1558
- As of: 2025-12-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1558
- Congress: 119
- Title: Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-01
- Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-20

## Summary

**Standardized Financial Aid Offer** This bill would create a uniform, consumer-tested "Financial Aid Offer" that presents college costs, grants, loans, and next steps in a clear order so students and families can compare offers easily. - Students and families would receive a single, plain-language form that lists costs first, then grants and scholarships, shows a net price estimate, and explains loans and repayment. The form must cover six primary content categories including direct and indirect costs. - People considering private education loans would get required disclosures about those loans, limits on how institutions may present or guarantee them, and information on how private borrowing can affect federal aid and repayment rights. - Colleges and financial aid offices would have to adopt standard terminology and the form if they get federal aid. The Secretary would pilot the form with 16–24 institutions and limit consumer testing to eight months before finalizing the design.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- One standard financial aid form: benefit, medium. If enacted, every college that gets federal aid would have to use a single, consumer-tested Financial Aid Offer. The form would list itemized direct and indirect costs and an estimated net price. It would separate grants from recommended Title IV loans and show loan types, repayment links, and dead…
- Standardize financial aid terminology: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Education Secretary would set plain-language names and definitions for Financial Aid Offers. The Secretary would produce draft forms within 9 months. The Secretary would run consumer testing with 16–24 institutions and diverse students for up to 8 months. The final form and a test r…
- Change to aid rulemaking process: mixed, low. If enacted, Section 492 procedural rules would not apply to regulations for the Financial Aid Offer. This would change how the Department of Education writes those rules. It may speed rulemaking but would limit some normal procedural protections.

## Related bills

- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-2511: College Transparency Act
- 119-s-315: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-1558 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1558)

## Related
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-2511: College Transparency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2511)
- [119-s-315: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-315)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1558 (as of 2025-12-20).