United States Code

20 U.S.C. § 1001

General definition of institution of higher education

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Get an alert when any bill in Congress would change this law — and every time it moves.

Bills that would change it 124

S 3589 RISE Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 9748 Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act Amends 1001(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 5021 Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act Amends 1001(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 9611 Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 9469 Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Students Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4943 Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Students Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 9414 Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4859 Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4801 Duty Status Reform Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8815 Teacher Debt Relief Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8475 Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4169 Student Loan Interest Elimination Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8045 Student Loan Interest Elimination Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6498 Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6976 Duty Status Reform Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3433 PELL Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3210 EXPERTS Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6145 EXPERTS Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4902 Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4862 LOAN Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2107 POST Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4026 POST Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 1738 Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 2829 SERVICE Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 2899 PROTECT Students Act of 2025 Amends 1001(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 1296 DETERRENT Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 1220 Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1048 DETERRENT Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 994 PROTECT Students Act of 2025 Amends 1001(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 2057 Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1999 Disclose GIFT Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 2003 Affordable Loans for Students Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
S 801 Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1739 Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 542 No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 455 Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 3194 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 6951 College Cost Reduction Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 3724 End Woke Higher Education Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 9004 POST Act of 2024 Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2024 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 8807 Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7683 Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
S 4106 Students Bill of Rights Act of 2024 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7877 Second Chance at Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7612 Students Bill of Rights Act of 2024 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3695 Teacher Debt Relief Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7139 Teacher Debt Relief Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 5933 DETERRENT Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3362 DETERRENT Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
S 2629 Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress

Showing the 50 most recently active.

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) Institution of higher education For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term “institution of higher education” means an educational institution in any State that— (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements of section 1091(d) of this title; (2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; (3) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary; (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and (5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time. (b) Additional institutions included For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term “institution of higher education” also includes— (1) any school that provides not less than a 1-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation and that meets the provision of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subsection (a); and (2) a public or nonprofit private educational institution in any State that, in lieu of the requirement in subsection (a)(1), admits as regular students individuals— (A) who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is located; or (B) who will be dually or concurrently enrolled in the institution and a secondary school. (c) List of accrediting agencies For purposes of this section and section 1002 of this title, the Secretary shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations that the Secretary determines, pursuant to subpart 2 of part H of subchapter IV, to be reliable authority as to the quality of the education or training offered.

Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗