PRIA Logo™
S5665119th CongressWALLET

America’s College Promise Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a federal‑state partnership to fund tuition‑free community college and add federal grant programs to expand student supports, transfer pathways, and targeted institutional reforms at minority‑serving colleges.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Pathway grants for minority-serving colleges

If enacted, the bill would fund Pathways grants for HBCUs, TCUs, and other Minority-Serving Institutions to support bachelor’s completion and transfer pathways. The statute sets annual appropriations for FY2027–FY2036 that grow to $2.522 billion for 2036 and each succeeding year, with each year’s funds available for two more fiscal years. Eligible institutions must be public or nonprofit four-year schools with at least 35% low-income students, commit to evidence-based reforms, and set performance goals. Grants tied to transfer students would require statewide articulation agreements guaranteeing full transfer of eligible community-college credits and that associate degrees count as the first two years of related bachelor’s programs.

Student Success Fund grants for colleges

If enacted, the bill would create a Student Success Fund with $1 billion appropriated for fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding year, with funds available until expended. Grants would support enrollment, retention, transfer, completion, and labor-market outcomes for underserved students and require applicants to submit plans and benchmarks. Matching requirements would rise from 25% in years 1–4 to 100% in year 9 and later, though the Secretary could modify or waive matches for Tribal Colleges and Universities. Up to 5% of a grant could be used for administration and funds must supplement, not supplant, other Federal, State, Tribal, and local funds.

Tuition-free community college access

If enacted, the bill would fund grants so eligible students at participating community colleges pay $0 in tuition and mandatory fees. Eligible students would be undergraduates enrolled at least half-time who qualify for in-state or in-district tuition (or would qualify but for immigration status); benefits would be limited to six semesters or 60 credits and exclude dual or early-college high school students. For U.S. citizens, FAFSA filing would be required under the community-college eligibility rule. Federal per-student payments would start in 2027–2028 based on average resident community-college tuition and fees and grow with CPI but no more than 3% per year; waivers could only cover a student’s first 60 credits at a participating institution. Recipients could not use subpart funds for grant administration, must supplement not supplant other funds, and the Secretary could reduce or discontinue federal funding or ratably reduce grants if appropriations are insufficient or recipients fail to meet rules.

State funding and unemployment relief

If enacted, the bill would phase the federal share for State grants from 100% in 2027–2028 down to 80% in 2031–2032 and later, while the State share would rise from 0% to 20% over the same period. States would have to provide their share and generally could not count in-kind contributions or maintenance-of-effort funds toward that share unless narrowly allowed by the statute. The bill would define unemployment-based relief tiers using 3-month averages and allow qualifying States to request waivers or higher federal shares when unemployment reaches tier ranges starting at 6.5% (Tier II) up to 9.5% or more (Tier V). The Secretary would apply the timing and exact substituted percentages for waivers and share reductions according to the bill’s tier rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

WI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

  • Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation