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Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees and Unfair Programs

This act aims to protect students from educational programs that do not adequately prepare them for licensed or certified professions. It introduces new rules for institutions to ensure that programs offered are accredited and meet licensing requirements in the states where students intend to work. This helps students avoid wasting time and money on education that will not lead to professional benefits.
Key points
Colleges must ensure that programs preparing students for licensed professions fully qualify them to take exams and obtain certifications in the student's residence and in states where the institution advertises job prospects.
Institutions offering online programs must be legally authorized in each state where their enrolled students are located, or participate in state authorization reciprocity agreements.
Educational programs that previously lost funding due to poor employment or debt-to-earnings outcomes cannot be re-offered in a substantially similar form for at least three years.
Students enrolling in programs that do not meet licensing requirements in their target state must be notified and provide written acknowledgment of this fact.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_5188
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Process start date: 2022-12-06
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_5188.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-12-06.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Colleges must ensure that programs preparing students for licensed professions fully qualify them to take exams and obtain certifications in the student's residence and in states where the institution advertises job prospects.
  • Institutions offering online programs must be legally authorized in each state where their enrolled students are located, or participate in state authorization reciprocity agreements.
  • Educational programs that previously lost funding due to poor employment or debt-to-earnings outcomes cannot be re-offered in a substantially similar form for at least three years.
  • Students enrolling in programs that do not meet licensing requirements in their target state must be notified and provide written acknowledgment of this fact.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Education