Bill · S. 2892· Senate(119-S-2892)
Jumpstart on College Act
- Introduced
- 9/18/2025
- Last activity
- 9/18/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Jumpstart on College Act directs the Secretary of Education to provide grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs. Its goal is to increase the number of students, specifically low-income and underrepresented populations, who complete recognized postsecondary credentials on time. The bill authorizes $250 million annually for five years, splitting funds between eligible entities, States, and national activities. Grants for eligible entities and States both last for six years and require matching funds. The Act also mandates reporting on student outcomes and a national evaluation by an independent entity.
Yes· 3 of 25
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+10
Specifically prioritizes programs serving low-income students and offsets costs for tuition and fees.
Would students be better off under this?+10
Eliminates tuition/fees for participants and accelerates credential attainment.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+9
Provides significant educational advancement and cost reduction for high school students transitioning to college.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-2
Imposes federal matching requirements and reporting standards on states.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
Increases government spending through new grant programs.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
The bill authorizes additional federal spending of $250 million annually.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Free Postsecondary Courses: Students in programs funded by these grants will not be required to pay tuition or fees for their postsecondary courses (Section 5(i)(3)(A)).
- Support for Low-Income Students: The Secretary must prioritize grants for programs where at least 51 percent of students are low-income (Section 5(f)(1)).
- Increased Accessibility: States may use funds to offset costs for tuition, fees, standardized testing, and support services for low-income and underrepresented students (Section 6(f)(2)(A)).
- Student Support Services: Grant funds must be used to create systems of support, including academic, social, and college and career readiness services for students (Section 5(h)(1)(A)(ii)(I)).
- Work-Based Learning: The bill allows for the incorporation of internships, pre-apprenticeships, and registered apprenticeships into the programs (Section 5(h)(2)(C)).
- Improved Transferability: States can establish formal transfer systems across 2-year and 4-year institutions to make it easier for students to transfer credits (Section 6(f)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Burden on Entities: Eligible entities must provide matching funds that increase over time, starting at 20 percent in the first two years and reaching 50 percent by the sixth year (Section 5(d)(2)).
- State Funding Requirements: States receiving grants must provide matching funds from non-Federal sources equal to 50 percent of the grant amount each year (Section 6(d)).
- Competitive Access: Because grants are awarded on a competitive basis, many eligible entities and States may not receive the funding necessary to establish or support these programs (Section 5(a) and Section 6(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+10Good For Students+10Good For Young Adults+9Good For African Americans+7Good For Hispanic Americans+7Good For Native Americans+7Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For People With Disabilities+5Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Urban Residents+5Good For Asian Americans+4Good For White Americans+4Good For Business Owners+2Good For High Income Households+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+8Increases Public School Funding+6Improves School Choice+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Poverty Reduction+4Improves Disability Rights+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2Increase States Rights-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-1
- 12/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon