Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act
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The bill would require public colleges and universities that receive federal student aid funding to charge in-state tuition rates to U.S. nationals who are residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It would extend a benefit currently limited to state residents to students from these territories, addressing a longstanding gap in access to affordable higher education for territorial residents who are U.S. nationals but not state residents.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to bar public institutions of higher education that receive federal student aid funding from charging higher tuition and fee rates to certain territorial residents than they charge residents of the state where the institution is located. The protection would apply to individuals who are both residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and who are U.S. nationals under federal immigration law.
The bill would also add compliance with this new requirement as a condition of the program participation agreements that institutions must sign to remain eligible for federal student aid funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. It does not change tuition rules for other out-of-state or international students, and does not create new federal funding or grants.
Key provisions
- 1Would bar public institutions receiving federal aid from charging covered territorial residents more than in-state tuition and fee rates
- 2Defines a covered individual as a U.S. national residing in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
- 3Would add compliance with the new in-state tuition requirement as a condition of an institution's program participation agreement for federal student aid
Who would be affected
Public colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programs, and students who are U.S. nationals residing in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands and seeking to attend those institutions on the U.S. mainland or elsewhere.
Why it matters
Territorial students who are U.S. nationals but not state residents currently often pay higher out-of-state tuition at public universities. If enacted, these students would qualify for lower in-state rates, potentially making mainland public higher education substantially more affordable, while institutions would face a new binding condition tied to their federal aid eligibility.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015 et seq.) (Sec. 2(a))
Inserts new Section 135A requiring public institutions receiving federal aid to charge covered territorial residents no more than in-state tuition rates.
Amends Higher Education Act of 1965, Section 487(a) (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) (Sec. 2(b))
Adds a new paragraph requiring institutions' program participation agreements to include compliance with the new in-state tuition rule.
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6472 would not significantly affect the federal budget, with any effects on direct spending and the deficit falling between -$500,000 and $500,000 over the 2026–2035 period.
H.R. 6472 would require public colleges and universities to charge in-state tuition to U.S. nationals from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a condition of participating in federal student aid programs. CBO expects institutions would comply to maintain their federal aid eligibility, and that lower tuition costs could modestly reduce the Pell grants and federal student loans those students receive — while some additional students might enroll, slightly increasing aid use. Because the number of affected students would be small, CBO estimates the net effects on direct spending (mandatory outlays such as loans and Pell grants), revenues, and the deficit would each be between -$500,000 and $500,000 over the 2026–2035 period. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill, and implementation costs for the Department of Education would not be significant.
How implementation would work
Institutions would implement the change through their existing program participation agreements with the Department of Education, which govern eligibility for federal student aid under Title IV. Compliance with the new in-state tuition requirement for covered territorial residents would become a standard condition of those agreements, meaning institutions that fail to comply could risk their federal aid eligibility. The bill does not create a separate enforcement agency, reporting requirement, or grant process.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires public institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to charge no more than in-state tuition and fee rates to students who are residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, provided they are also U.S. nationals.
Legislative subjects
American Samoa; Caribbean area; Education; Guam; Higher education; Northern Mariana Islands; Student aid and college costs; U.S. territories and protectorates; Virgin Islands
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-495