DECIDE Act
The DECIDE Act would require the Department of Education to substantially expand the data shown in the College Scorecard. For every program that is eligible for federal aid and for each institution, the Secretary would publish new program-level and institution-level metrics. Program-level data would include 10-year median earnings for the program’s students who received federal funds, as well as median debt levels (Stafford, Grad PLUS, and Parent PLUS) at the time borrowers entered repayment, plus default rates and repayment rates for the program. Institution-level data would include the institution’s cohort default rate, overall repayment rate, and default/repayment rates specifically for Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans. The goal is to improve transparency and accountability for federal student loan borrowers by giving borrowers and policymakers clearer information about costs, debt, and outcomes associated with specific programs and schools.
Key Points
- 1Program-level data: For every eligible program, the data to be added/updated annually include 10-year median earnings for program graduates who received federal funds, and the median debt at the time of repayment for Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS loans (for graduate/professional programs), and Parent PLUS loans. It also includes the program’s default rate and its repayment rate.
- 2Institution-level data: The data to be added/updated annually include the institution’s cohort default rate, the institution’s repayment rate, and the default and repayment rates specifically for Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans tied to the institution.
- 3Repayment rate definition: The repayment rate is the share of borrowers who graduated with federal loans and are in a repayment-status category two years after entering repayment. Status categories may include making progress, not making progress, deferment, paid in full, forbearance, default, delinquent, or discharged. Private loans and federal loans originated at a different institution are excluded.
- 4Data scope and timing: Data would be published in the College Scorecard (or its successor) and updated annually, providing ongoing transparency.
- 5Purpose and scope: The act is designed to give borrowers clearer, data-driven insight into program value and school performance, with particular attention to debt burdens and repayment outcomes.