01/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/08/2025 16:37
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) introduced the bipartisan Providing Distance Education for Foreign Institutions Act, a bill to ensure American students studying at universities abroad can continue to access federal student loans.
"Students that pursue an international education are uniquely prepared to compete in a global economy and lead the way for a more peaceful and prosperous future," said Rep. Schneider. "It's time to help American students already weighed down by record-setting student debt and lift the barriers that stand in the way of accessing an international degree."
American students studying at institutions of higher education that participate in the Title IV loan program are able to finance full degrees abroad. Currently, these 400 international schools that participate in the Direct Loan program are prohibited from participating in Title IV if any part of their program is offered online. This prohibition was waived during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since gone back into effect, putting American students at risk of losing their ability to finance their degrees as colleges and universities now routinely offer portions of a course program online.
These schools are currently making extreme accommodations for their American students-offering in person sessions only for American students using financial aid. Without a fix, schools may opt out of participating in the Title IV loan program and American students will not be able to finance their degrees abroad.
"Tens of thousands of American students choose to earn degrees from institutions abroad, including scores of Pennsylvanians. I thank Rep. Schneider for working together to remove needless hurdles to these students' success by ensuring their continued access to federal financial aid," said Rep. Smucker.
The bill is supported by the International Education Council. The companion bill in the Senate is introduced by Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
"We applaud and commend Representative Schneider for introducing The Providing Distance Education for Foreign Institutions Act.This measure would ensure that Americans from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to receive degrees abroad by ensuring that American students attending participating international schools continue to have access to federal financial aid," said International Education Council Executive Director Bob Moran. "American financial aid provides students with the ability to choose their institution. Participation by colleges and universities outside the United States in the Title IV Direct Loan program vastly expands opportunities for students who want to obtain their postsecondary education overseas. These opportunities provide students with a wealth of global awareness and diplomatic skillsets they bring home to the United States."
You can find the bill text here.