Debt-Free College Act of 2026

The U.S. would match states that make public college debt-free, and Dreamers could get federal student aid.

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If you go to a public college in your home state, your state could choose to make it debt-free. The federal government would match each dollar your state spends on its public colleges. Congress could put $84 billion toward this in 2027, and more through 2036. Joining states would have to cover each student's unmet need. That is the school cost left after your family's expected share and any grants. Students with Pell Grants (federal aid for lower-income students) would be covered first. Other students would get help next, based on need. States would have five years to reach debt-free college for everyone who qualifies. Joining states would have to cap tuition and fees at the level on the day the bill becomes law. After that, they could rise only with inflation. States could not cut their own college funding or their need-based aid. Each state would spend 4% of its grant on tutors, advisors, and other help to finish school. A state that breaks the rules could lose half its grant, or all of it. If a state quits, Pell students already enrolled would keep their aid until they finish. A separate program would give $3 billion in 2027 to some colleges that serve many minority students. These include private historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, and other private minority-serving colleges. Those other colleges must have at least 35% of students on Pell Grants. Each college would spend 95% of its grant on making school debt-free. It would also have to cap tuition. The bill would also open federal student aid, like Pell Grants and loans, to Dreamers. Dreamers are immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, before age 16. They would also need to finish high school here, finish two years of college, or have been eligible for DACA. Four years in a uniformed service, such as the military, would also count.