U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Jon Husted (R-OH) have introduced the Debt, Earnings, and Cost Information Disclosure for Education (DECIDE) Act in an effort to improve transparency around the financial obligations associated with higher education. The proposed legislation aims to codify section 4 of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13864, requiring enhancements to the College Scorecard—a tool that allows prospective students and families to compare key metrics about colleges and universities.
According to Senator Tuberville, “The most important commodity we have in the United States is our youngpeople, yet more and more of them are finding themselves buried in student loandebt. The cost of higher education is out of control. While attending college may not be for everyone, it is important for those pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees to understand the financial impact it will have on them and their futures. I’m proud to join Sen. Husted in introducing this legislation to increase transparency around costs of higher education.”
Senator Husted stated, “Students deserve to know exactly what financial burdens and realistic outcomes come with attending a college. As college tuition continues to increase, my bill would help students make informed decisions about their futures and avoid being shackled by debt for years to come.”
Data show that since 1963, college tuition has risen by nearly 500%. The DECIDE Act would require the College Scorecard to provide clearer information regarding loan amounts, risks associated with debt, and repayment timelines. This move is intended to ensure that students and families can access clear data outlining the financial consequences before choosing a college or university.
President Trump’s Executive Order 13864 was issued in March 2019 as part of an initiative that created the College Scorecard platform. The Scorecard currently displays data such as cost of attendance, graduation rates, median earnings after graduation, loan default rates, average student debt levels, employment rates among graduates, and other relevant information.
The full text of the bill is available online.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the U.S. Senate and serves on several committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Aging.
