Bill · S. 880· Senate(119-S-880)
Fair College Admissions for Students Act
- Introduced
- 3/6/2025
- Last activity
- 3/19/2026 — Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Fair College Admissions for Students Act," aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. It would prohibit institutions of higher education that participate in Federal student assistance programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to certain applicants. Specifically, it targets preferences based on relationships to donors or alumni. The rule would take effect on the first day of the second award year beginning after the bill is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+4
Removing donor and alumni preferences helps level the playing field for students from households without significant institutional connections.
Would students be better off under this?+4
The act focuses on making the admissions process fairer for all applicants by removing preferential treatment based on connections.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+3
The bill creates a more meritocratic admissions process for young adults applying to higher education.
The opposite
Would high-income households be better off under this?-5
The bill eliminates the specific admissions advantages often utilized by high-income families with donor or alumni status.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Removal of preferential treatment: The bill prohibits institutions from providing any manner of preference in the admission process based on an applicant's relationship to donors or alumni (Section 2(a)). This could benefit students who do not have those specific connections by creating a more level playing field in admissions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts mentioned: The provided text does not contain any information regarding potential negative consequences or burdens resulting from this bill.
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+4Good For Students+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For High Income Households-5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- 3/19/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 3/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors 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.
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California