Bill · S. 3359· Senate(119-S-3359)
Fast Track To and Through College Act
- Introduced
- 12/4/2025
- Last activity
- 12/4/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Maggie Hassan
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Fast Track To and Through College Act" aims to increase college completion rates and lower costs by accelerating the time it takes to earn a degree. It does this by aligning high school and postsecondary education and improving how credits transfer between institutions. The bill establishes competitive grants for states to implement "early college fast track pathways" and "early high school graduation fast track pathways." These pathways allow students to earn college credits or graduate high school early through various advanced coursework options. Additionally, the bill modifies Federal Pell Grant eligibility to support students in these programs.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would students be better off under this?+8
The bill aims to increase completion rates and lower costs through improved credit transfer and early graduation pathways.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+7
The bill expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to high school students in specific pathways to help reduce costs.
Does this make college cost less?+7
The bill reduces college costs by accelerating time to degree and providing Federal Pell Grants to high school students in fast track pathways.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced College Costs and Faster Degree Completion: The bill's primary purpose is to help students finish their education faster and pay less for it (Section 2, Section 416A).
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Access to Federal Pell Grants while in High School: High school students participating in an "early college fast track pathway" can receive Federal Pell Grants based on their student aid index (Section 416E(a)).
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Protection of Pell Grant Eligibility: For students in these fast track pathways, the Pell Grants they receive for up to two semesters will not count toward the standard 12-semester eligibility limit (Section 416E(b)).
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Financial Support for Early Graduation: The bill provides for the development of "early high school graduation fast track pathways," which include scholarships for students who graduate high school early (Section 416C(e)(4) and Section 416D(b)(1)).
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No-Cost Pathways: Eligible entities must ensure that students participating in "early college fast track pathways" can do so at no cost to the students or their parents, covering tuition, fees, books, and supplies (Section 416C(f)(8)(i)).
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Improved Credit Transferability: The bill requires states to develop agreements that guarantee credits earned in these pathways transfer to public institutions in the state and can be recognized by participating private nonprofit or out-of-state institutions (Section 416C(f)(2)(D)(iv)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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State Funding Requirements: States receiving assistance must meet "maintenance of effort" requirements, meaning they must provide an amount to institutions equal to or greater than the average amount previously provided for advanced coursework (Section 416H(a)).
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Funding Limitations for Pell Grants: While students can receive Pell Grants for these pathways, the amount is capped at the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies, specifically excluding fees associated with Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations (Section 416E(c)).
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 Students+8Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Young Adults+6Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For People With Disabilities+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+7
- 12/4/2025
- 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.
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana