Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a competitive grant program to increase postsecondary success for high-need students. It would fund evidence-based student services, accelerated learning, transfer improvements, career preparation, and evaluations to boost enrollment, retention, and completion at institutions and Tribal colleges.
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- Families and students: Grants would pay for tutoring, mentoring, advising, emergency financial aid, career coaching, and supports designed to keep students enrolled and help them graduate.
- Tribal colleges and eligible Indian entities: At least 2% of each fiscal year’s appropriation would be reserved to support participation, retention, and completion for students at Tribal Colleges and Universities.
- Institutions and program design: Applicants must use evidence-based reforms and set annual benchmarks. At least 20% of non-reserved funds would go to proposals including a Tier 3 practice, and grantees could use up to 5% for administration and up to 2% for technical assistance; a final evaluation report would be due 18 months after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to boost college completion
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program for institutions for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to fund evidence-based reforms and student supports that raise enrollment, retention, and completion for high-need students. The Secretary would reserve 2% of each year’s appropriation for Tribal Colleges and at least 20% of non‑Tribal funds for projects that include at least one tier 3 evidence-based reform. The Secretary would allow up to 5% of grant funds for administration, capacity building, research, evaluation, and reporting, and up to 2% for technical assistance. Applicants would need plans, annual benchmarks, evaluation plans, the share of enrolled students who got a Pell Grant, student demographics, and a sustainability plan. The bill would define eligible applicants and who counts as a high-need student (for example, low-income and Pell recipients, first-generation students, caregivers, students with disabilities, stopped-out or justice-impacted students, and military-connected students). An institution with branch campuses could get a grant for only one campus at a time. The Secretary would fund independent evaluations and must submit a final report to Congress within 18 months after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov