College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act

This bill requires colleges participating in federal financial aid programs to provide standardized, easy-to-understand financial aid offers to enrolled and prospective students. It mandates that these offers clearly separate direct costs (tuition, fees, required expenses) from indirect costs (housing, books, transportation), show out-of-pocket costs after grants/scholarships, and prohibit labeling loans as reducing costs. The offers must use plain language, disclose that grants don't need repayment while loans do, and include key details like median graduate earnings. This directly affects all students applying for federal financial aid at participating colleges, ensuring they receive consistent, transparent information to make informed decisions about college costs.