The College for All Act of 2023 aims to make community college and four-year public universities tuition-free for eligible students through a federal-state partnership. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the federal government would cover most of the cost of eliminating tuition and required fees, with states gradually increasing their share over time—starting at 0% federal responsibility in year one and declining to 80% by year five, while states pick up 20%. Tribal colleges would receive full federal funding to eliminate tuition.

To qualify for free tuition at community colleges, students must be residents (or would be if not for immigration status), have filed their federal financial aid application, and not be in high school dual enrollment programs. For four-year universities, the program starts more limited—only covering students from families earning up to $125,000 (single) or $250,000 (married) in the first year, with income limits adjusting annually afterward. All eligible students regardless of immigration status can participate.

States that receive this funding must meet several requirements: maintain spending on instruction, ensure community college credits transfer to four-year universities, align high school graduation requirements with college readiness standards, hire more full-time faculty instead of part-time instructors, and provide additional aid to students receiving federal Pell Grants. States facing economic hardship (high unemployment) can request temporary relief from some of these requirements. The law also prevents institutions from cutting enrollment or charging non-eligible students higher rates to offset free tuition for eligible students.

College for All Act of 2023

College for All Act of 2023 This bill establishes measures to expand access to higher education, including by eliminating tuition and required fees for eligible students, revising the Federal Pell Grant program, and reauthorizing certain programs to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Specifically, the bill provides funding to enable states and tribal colleges and universities, through a federal-state partnership, to eliminate tuition and required fees for (1) all students at community colleges and two-year tribal colleges and universities, and (2) working- and middle-class students at four-year public institutions of higher education and tribal colleges and universities. The bill provides funding to enable private, nonprofit historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students. The bill permanently reauthorizes and otherwise revises the Federal Pell Grant program by <ul> <li>providing funding to increase the maximum award for each eligible student,</li> <li>increasing the duration limit for the use of Pell Grants,</li> <li>allowing students to use their awards to cover living and nontuition expenses, and</li> <li>expanding eligibility to Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 16) and students with other immigration statuses. </li> </ul> Further, the bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to eligible states and tribal colleges and universities for improving student outcomes. The bill reauthorizes through FY2033 the Federal TRIO Programs and reauthorizes through FY2027 the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.