U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) have introduced the Creating Opportunities to Use Received Student Exam (COURSE) Credit Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the rising cost of higher education. The legislation seeks to increase transparency for students and families regarding college credit policies for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.
“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.”
The proposed bill would require the Department of Education to collect and publish detailed information about how colleges award credit for AP and IB exams. Additionally, it would mandate that colleges post this information on their own websites, making it easier for students, families, and counselors to determine which institutions recognize these credits. This could help students graduate faster, reduce tuition expenses, and streamline their educational paths.
The COURSE Credit Act is also cosponsored 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.”
Sean Robins, Director of Advocacy at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), commented: “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.”
Louisa Woodhouse, Senior Associate for Policy & Advocacy at the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), added: “Clear credit policies help ensure students do not pay twice for the same coursework. 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.”
In addition to introducing this bill, Congressman Subramanyam has supported several other measures in Congress focused on lowering postsecondary education costs. These include passing legislation allowing 529 savings plans for workforce training programs; cosponsoring bills aimed at improving data collection in higher education; supporting efforts to lower student loan interest rates; advocating deferred loan payments for medical residents; and backing expanded federal aid access for graduate students.
