To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain licensure, certification, and aviation training costs in the determination of the cost of attendance of a student, and for other purposes.
Key claim: HR9896 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 so that certain licensure, certification, and aviation training costs count toward a student’s cost of attendance for federal student aid.
Abstract
(HR9896 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-07-23): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why this matters
Cost of attendance is the ceiling that determines how much federal student aid (grants and loans) a student can receive, so expanding it to include licensure exams, certifications, and aviation training would let students borrow or draw aid for costs currently paid out of pocket. For institutions, it clarifies what ancillary credentialing expenses can be packaged into aid; for borrowers in fields like aviation with high pre-employment training costs, it could materially shift access to federal financing.