H.R. 9957: Time for Completion Act

This bill would require colleges and universities to give students more detailed information about how long it takes different kinds of students to finish their programs.

What changes for schools

Under current law, schools already have to report some graduation and completion-rate information. This bill would expand that reporting so that, for both degree and certificate programs, schools must show completion rates for:

• First-time, full-time students
• First-time, part-time students
• Students who are not first-time, full-time
• Students who are not first-time, part-time

The bill would also separate programs into two groups:

• Programs that normally take 4 years or more
• Programs that normally take less than 4 years

What information would be reported

For each of those student groups and program types, schools would have to publicly report the percentage of students who complete their program within several time frames:

• The normal time it is supposed to take
• 150% of normal time
• 200% of normal time
• 300% of normal time for shorter programs

In plain terms, that means students would be able to see not just whether people finish, but how quickly different kinds of students tend to finish.

How the information must be shown

The bill would require the Education Secretary to present these completion percentages in a consistent way and with equal visibility, so the data is not hidden or emphasized unevenly.

Other related disclosure changes

The bill would also update the information schools must provide to students about institutional and financial aid topics so that it includes these expanded completion and graduation rates. It would replace an older rule that focused mainly on completion within 150% of normal time with a broader rule covering the new range of completion times.

Relevant Companies

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