H.R. 9957 – Time for Completion Act

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Updated August 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM UTC

The Time for Completion Act amends the Higher Education Act to require colleges to provide detailed, publicly available data on how quickly students finish their programs. It asks schools to show the share of students who graduate within the normal time, and at 150%, 200%, and 300% of that time, broken down by enrollment status and whether they are first‑time students. The information must be presented consistently and also be included in financial‑aid disclosures, helping prospective students compare schools based on graduation speed.

Key Provisions

Colleges must publicly report the percentage of undergraduate students who earn a degree or certificate within four time frames: the normal program length, 150% of that time, 200% of that time, and 300% of that time.
The reporting must be broken out by four student groups: first‑time full‑time, first‑time part‑time, non‑first‑time full‑time, and non‑first‑time part‑time, and must cover both programs that are four years or longer and those shorter than four years.
The reported percentages must be displayed in a consistent, equally visible way on the institution’s public information pages.
Financial‑aid disclosures must now include these same completion‑rate percentages for each student type and program length.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 27, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 27, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 27, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 27, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9957

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 27, 2026

Mrs. Hayes (for herself and Mr. Kennedy of Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for comprehensive student achievement information.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Time for Completion Act.

2.

Consumer information about completion or graduation times

(a)

Transparency in college tuition for consumers

Section 132(i)(1)(J) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a(i)(1)(J)) is amended to read as follows:

(J)

(i)

For programs of study that are at least 4 academic years in length (as determined under section 481)—

(I)

the percentages of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii);

(II)

the percentages of first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii);

(III)

the percentages of non-first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); and

(IV)

the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii).

(ii)

For programs of study that are less than 4 academic years in length (as determined under section 481)—

(I)

the percentages of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii);

(II)

the percentages of first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii);

(III)

the percentages of non-first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); and

(IV)

the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii).

(iii)

For purposes of this subparagraph, the times for completion or graduation are as follows:

(I)

The normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program.

(II)

150 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program.

(III)

200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program.

(IV)

300 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program.

(iv)

In making publicly available the percentages described in this subparagraph, the Secretary shall display each percentage in a consistent manner and with equal visibility.

.

(b)

Institutional and financial assistance information for students

Section 485(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by amending subparagraph (L) to read as follows:

(L)

each completion or graduation rate for each type of student and program of study described in clauses (i) and (ii) of section 132(i)(1)(J);

; and

(2)

in paragraph (3), by striking within 150 percent of the normal time for completion of or graduation from the program and inserting within the time for completion or graduation described in section 132(i)(1)(J) applicable to such student and such program of study.