AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after cosponsoring the College Transparency Act (CTA), which would improve access to postsecondary data and information for students and families considering higher education opportunities:

“Access to clear and transparent information is crucial to help prospective college students and their families weigh higher education options for their future, including which courses of study result in a worthwhile return on investment,”said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would empower Texans to make the education decisions that best fit their needs by improving the availability and reporting of data for everything from student enrollment and completion rates to graduate earnings.”

Background:

The College Transparency Act (CTA) would modernize the college reporting system by providing accurate postsecondary data on student outcomes, such as enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across colleges and majors, while also ensuring the privacy of individual students is protected.

This information would give students a clear understanding of the return on investment in higher education and help them to make better decisions as to which schools and programs of study are best suited to their unique needs and desired outcomes. It would also aid institutions of learning and policymakers in their work to improve our country’s post-secondary education system and assist businesses and other employers in recruiting potential employees for a particular field.

The legislation is led by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) are cosponsors of this legislation.