H.R. 6502 · Where this bill is now
Waiting for a House vote
Approved by committee Jan 21, 2026; no House vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStandardizes how colleges present financial aid offers
The Department of Education would create a standard format that all colleges must use when telling students about their financial aid. Every offer would have to include the same key information: what college costs, how much you'd actually pay after aid, details about any loans (like interest rates), job opportunities available to you, and clear steps for accepting or changing your aid package.
How it affects you
If you're applying to college or currently a student, this affects you directly. Right now, each school presents financial aid differently, which can make it hard to compare offers side by side. With this bill, all colleges would use the same clear format and language, so you could more easily understand what you're actually paying and make better decisions about where to attend.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Jan 21, 2026)
College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to develop, and for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to use, a standardized, consumer-tested format for all financial aid offers.
Any financial aid offer must include specified details and disclosures, including (1) cost information (e.g., cost of attendance and net price); (2) disclosures related to loans (e.g., applicable interest rates); (3) information on student employment opportunities; and (4) next steps for accepting, adjusting, or declining financial aid.
Each IHE that participates in federal student aid programs must (1) include the required information for all financial aid offers (including paper, mobile, or electronic offers), (2) provide supplemental content and disclosures (e.g., requirements for renewing financial aid), and (3) use consistent terminology for all communications related to financial aid offers.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 6502
A BILL
College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa C. McClain (R-MI-9) · Introduced Dec 9, 2025 · Education · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 21, 2026: “Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 394.”