H.R. 10455: Debt-Free College Act of 2026 (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill would create a federal grant program to support state-federal “debt-free college” partnerships. States that want to participate would have to meet certain conditions, such as maintaining or increasing their own support for public higher education, capping tuition, and using the grant money for things like unmet student financial need, student success programs, and reporting requirements. The bill is designed to encourage states to make college more affordable without shifting costs away from state funding.

The bill would also set requirements for colleges that take part in the program. Participating schools would have to:

Keep enrollment of low-income students steady or growing.
Keep institutional aid for those students at least at current levels.
Submit calculations of the full cost of attendance.
Disclose information about available debt-free college options.

If a school does not follow these rules, the bill would allow the government to respond with enforcement actions such as notice, probation, fines, loss of eligibility for the program, escrow or return of funds, and notice to students.

In addition, the bill would authorize a separate grant program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). Those grants would be used for need-based financial aid, and the program would be tied to Pell Grant-related eligibility requirements.

The bill would also expand parts of Title IV so that certain DREAMers could become eligible for federal student aid under the bill’s rules.