S. 4431 – Time for Completion Act

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Updated May 12, 2026 at 5:52 AM UTC

The Time for Completion Act would change the Higher Education Act so colleges must publicly share detailed data on how quickly different groups of students earn their degrees or certificates. It requires reporting the percentages of first‑time, part‑time, and non‑first‑time students who finish within the normal program time and at 150%, 200% and 300% of that time. The information would be shown consistently on the Department of Education’s website, helping prospective students and families compare schools.

Key Provisions

Colleges must report, for each program, the percentage of four student categories (first‑time full‑time, first‑time part‑time, non‑first‑time full‑time, non‑first‑time part‑time) who graduate within four time frames: normal time, 150% of normal time, 200% of normal time, and 300% of normal time.
The reporting requirements differ for programs that are four years or longer versus those shorter than four years, but both must include the same four time frames.
The Department of Education must make these percentages publicly available and display each figure in a consistent, equally visible manner.
Section 485 of the Higher Education Act is amended to require that institutional and financial assistance information include these new completion and graduation rates, and the language referencing “150 percent of normal time” is replaced with the broader set of time frames defined in the bill.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2130-2131)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 29, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 29, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2130-2131)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 29, 2026

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 4431 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 29, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4431

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 29, 2026

Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Budd, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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

Subparagraph (J) of section 132(i)(1) 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 4 years of length or longer—

(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 less than 4 years—

(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 striking subparagraph (L) and inserting the following:

(L)

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

; and

(2)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of 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.