Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a competitive grant program to fund evidence-based reforms that boost participation, retention, and completion for high-need postsecondary students. It would use a three-tier evidence framework, reserve funds for Tribal entities, and require sustainment plans plus independent evaluations to measure what works.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
College grant uses and rules
Applicants would need to submit plans showing how they will raise completion and sustain reforms after the grant ends. Applications must include evidence tiers for proposed reforms, annual benchmarks, an evaluation plan, Pell Grant participation rates, and student demographic data. Grantees would have to use funds for approved activities like advising, tutoring, emergency financial aid, career coaching, transfer reforms, accelerated learning, and faculty support. The required details link grant awards to services that can directly help students.
Federal grants for college student success
The Department of Education would award competitive grants to eligible colleges and partnerships for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032. Grants would fund services aimed at raising enrollment, retention, and completion for high-need students. If your school gets a grant, you could receive supports to help you stay enrolled and finish. Grants and awards would depend on amounts Congress appropriates.
Program evaluations and required report
The Department would fund outside evaluations of grantees to check whether projects follow their plans and actually improve retention and completion. Evaluations must compare participating students with similar students who did not get services. The Department would share results nationally to identify scalable practices. A final report to two Congressional committees would be due not later than 18 months after enactment.
Tribal and evidence funding rules
For each fiscal year 2027 through 2032, the bill would reserve 2% of annual program funds for eligible Indian entities (Tribal Colleges). From the remaining funds, at least 20% would be set aside for proposals with evidence-based reforms and at least one funded project would include a tier-3 evidence practice. The Secretary could use up to 5% for administration, research, and capacity building and up to 2% for technical assistance. All these allocations would depend on the total money Congress provides.
Who counts as high-need students
The bill would define who can apply and which students count as "high-need." High-need categories would include low-income students (including Pell recipients), first-generation students, caregiver students, students with disabilities, students who left before finishing, justice-impacted reentering students, and military-connected students. It would also define eligible entities, evidence tiers, and completion measures. These definitions would take effect upon enactment.
One grant per multi-campus college
If enacted, an entity with branch campuses would be able to receive a grant for only one campus at a time for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. This means a branch campus you attend might not get program-funded supports if a different campus of the same institution receives the award. The rule would apply when competing for and receiving program grants.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov