Third Way Statement on the College Transparency Act

WASHINGTON — Third Way issued the following statement from Lanae Erickson, Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics:

“Third Way celebrates today’s bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the College Transparency Act (CTA) in the 118^th Congress. By improving access to high-quality, user-friendly data on student outcomes, CTA will empower students and their families to make informed decisions about where they attend college—and it’s time for Congress to finally pass this critical and overwhelmingly popular legislation.

“Pursuing higher education is among the most significant financial decisions students will make in their lifetimes, and they deserve complete and useful information to navigate those choices. CTA will overturn the current student unit record ban, which prevents the federal government from collecting and reporting comprehensive student outcomes data and makes it challenging for students to compare the experience and return on investment they may receive from attending different institutions.

“CTA serves the entire higher education community: it will provide students with better tools to weigh their college options, colleges and universities with insights to improve their student outcomes, and employers with a well-prepared workforce. Importantly, it achieves these aims while ensuring that student data are secure and privacy-protected, with robust data governance protocols to safeguard student information.

“CTA is a standout piece of legislation not only for its broad benefits, but also for its broad support across constituencies. It was the single most bipartisan bill by co-sponsor count in a prior Congress, and passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis last year in an amendment to the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Beyond the Capitol, CTA has earned the public endorsement of over 160 diverse organizations, among them higher education institutions, civil rights groups, veterans’ organizations, student advocates, and the workforce and economic development community.

“Third Way has been a proud supporter of CTA for many years, and we are pleased to see today’s reintroduction of the bill. We applaud Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Joe Wilson (R-SC), and their colleagues for leading the bipartisan charge to pass this critical legislation in the best interest of students.”