YourVoice.Now Summary
Your MoneyTransparency & AccountabilityMakes community college free for students who qualify in states that join, for up to 6 semesters, with the federal government paying most of it.
Your Money
Pell Grants and other aid you get could not be applied to the $0 tuition. That aid would stay available for other school costs, like books or rent.
Most federal student aid today goes only to citizens and certain lawful residents. This program could not deny anyone the free tuition based on citizenship or immigration status. Only U.S. citizens would have to file the federal aid form.
States and tribal colleges that join would set tuition and fees to $0. You must attend at least half-time, and the free tuition lasts up to 6 semesters. High school students taking college classes would not qualify.
Historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving four-year schools could join if at least 35% of their students are low-income. They would waive or cut tuition for students who meet Pell Grant income rules, for up to 60 credits.
Transparency & Accountability
A new fund would give $1 billion a year to states and tribal colleges in the program. Each must file a plan for how it will use the money. The Education Department would post each plan on its website.
More about this bill
You could go to community college for free if your state signs up. Tuition and fees would be $0 for students who qualify. Federal payments would start with the 2027-2028 school year. You would need to attend at least half-time and qualify for in-state rates. The free tuition would last up to 6 semesters. Your federal student aid could not be spent on that tuition. That leaves your aid for books, rent, or child care. U.S. citizens would have to file the federal aid form (FAFSA). No student could be turned away because of immigration status. The federal government would pay most of the cost. Its payment per student would be based on average in-state community college tuition nationwide. That amount would grow each year with prices, but by no more than 3%. The federal share would be 100% in 2027-2028. It would then drop 5 points a year, down to 80% by 2031-2032. States would pay the rest, up to 20%. States would also have to keep up their own college spending. When unemployment runs high, states could get a break, and the federal share could rise to 100%. Money for this part would flow every year with no yearly vote and no dollar cap. Tribal colleges could join on their own. For them, the federal government would pay the full cost. States that join would have to line up high school diploma rules with college entry rules. They would also need to let associate degrees count as the first 2 years at their public universities. States would get 3 years to show they did both. The Education Department could cut off a state that breaks the grant terms. A new $1 billion-a-year fund would help schools in these states raise graduation and transfer rates. States would add their own money, starting at 25% of the grant and rising to 100% by year nine. Their plans would be posted online. A separate grant would waive or cut tuition for low-income students at some four-year colleges. These include historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, and Hispanic-serving colleges. At least 35% of a college's students must be low-income. The grant would cover a student's first 60 credits. Its funding would grow from about $98 million in 2027 to about $2.5 billion a year by 2036.
Congressional Summary
America's College Promise Act of 2026 This bill provides funding and establishes grant programs to expand access to higher education, including by providing free community college to students. Specifically, the bill establishes a program to waive resident tuition and fees for community college students. The Department of Education (ED) must award grants to states and tribal colleges and universities to pay the federal share of the program. As a condition of receiving such a grant, a state must (1) submit a plan to align the requirements for receiving a regular high school diploma with the requirements for entering credit-bearing coursework at community colleges; and (2) submit a plan to improve transfer pathways between institutions of higher education (IHEs), including by ensuring that associate degrees awarded by community colleges are fully transferable to four-year IHEs. Next, the bill directs ED to award grants to states and tribal colleges and universities for implementing evidence-based institutional reforms and innovative practices to improve student outcomes. In addition, ED must award grants to participating historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions to waive or significantly reduce the first 60 credits of tuition and fees for low-income students.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-09-30
- Date Added
- 2026-10-16
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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