The College for All Act of 2023 aims to make community college and public four-year universities tuition-free for eligible students through a partnership between the federal government and states. Starting in 2024-2025, the federal government would cover 100% of tuition elimination costs initially, gradually reducing to 80% by 2028-2029, while states would pick up an increasing share over the same period. For community colleges, all eligible students would get free tuition and fees. For four-year universities, free tuition would initially apply only to students from households earning up to $125,000 (single) or $250,000 (married), though this would expand in later years.

To participate, states must meet several requirements: maintain current spending levels on higher education, ensure at least 75% of instruction is taught by tenure-track or tenured faculty within five years, align high school graduation requirements with college readiness standards, and improve transfer pathways so community college credits fully transfer to four-year programs. Tribal colleges and universities would receive full federal funding (100%) to eliminate tuition. The bill also includes provisions allowing states experiencing high unemployment to request temporary relief from some requirements.

The program covers students regardless of immigration status, as long as they're working toward an associate or bachelor's degree and meet other eligibility criteria like filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. States cannot use these funds for administrative costs, and they must ensure that financial aid doesn't get applied to tuition—meaning aid goes toward other expenses like books and living costs. The bill essentially creates a nationwide free college program with the federal government initially bearing most costs while gradually shifting more responsibility to states over five years.

College for All Act of 2023

Sanders, Bernard

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.