U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the rising cost of higher education by improving transparency around college credit policies.

The proposed legislation, titled the Creating Opportunities to Use Received Student Exam (COURSE) Credit Act, would require clearer disclosure of how colleges and universities award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams taken during high school. According to Congressman Subramanyam’s office, the measure is intended to help students and families make more informed decisions before enrolling in college.

“Students and parents can save significantly on tuition costs by taking AP and IB courses, but they unknowingly end up choosing a college or degree program that does not award credit for them because of the lack of transparency,” said Rep. Subramanyam. “This commonsense measure will give students more information about what colleges and universities will honor with college credit. At a time when education costs continue to rise, this will save families time and money.”

Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Education would be required to collect and publish detailed information on institutional policies for awarding AP and IB credit. Colleges and universities would also be required to make the same information publicly available on their own websites.

“This will give students, families, and counselors a simple way to find and choose a college or program where students can make the most use of the credit they already earned, accelerating paths to graduation, saving on tuition costs, and freeing up valuable time,” the statement noted.

The COURSE Credit Act is also co-sponsored by Representatives James Walkinshaw (D-VA) and Pablo Hernandez (D-PR).

“College is expensive enough as it is,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Students and parents should not be left trying to guess if AP or IB credits will count. This bill brings some basic transparency so families can make smart decisions and help students get through school faster with less debt. That is what this is about.”

Education advocacy groups have also voiced support for the proposal.

“Clear and equitable credit pathways are essential to expanding access to postsecondary education, particularly for students navigating the transition from high school to college. The COURSE Credit Act ensures students understand how their Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) coursework will be recognized before they enroll, supporting more informed decision-making, reducing unnecessary costs, and strengthening pathways into and through higher education,” said Sean Robins, Director of Advocacy at the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

“Clear credit policies help ensure students do not pay twice for the same coursework,” said Louisa Woodhouse, Senior Associate for Policy and Advocacy at the National College Attainment Network. “The COURSE Credit Act provides students greater clarity on how AP and IB credits will apply toward their degree – reducing both time to completion and the overall cost of the credential.”

According to the statement, in addition to introducing the COURSE Credit Act, Congressman Subramanyam has taken multiple steps in Congress to address the rising cost of postsecondary education, including:

• Passing the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which allows students to use 529 college savings plans to pay for workforce training and credentialing programs.
• Cosponsoring the College Transparency Act to improve data collection and increase transparency in higher education costs and outcomes.
• Cosponsoring the LOAN Act to bring down borrowing costs by expanding access to subsidized loans, lowering interest rates, and offering flexible loan repayment plans.
• Cosponsoring the REDI Act to allow medical and dental students in residency or internship programs to defer loan payments until they complete their program.
• Cosponsoring the LEAP Act to allow all graduate students to access the same amount of federal student aid, regardless of degree program.

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