College Admissions Accountability Act of 2025

This bill creates a new Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education within the Department of Education to investigate and report on race-based discrimination in college admissions, financial aid, and academic programs at institutions that receive federal student assistance or institutional aid. It also makes institutions that violate the Equal Protection Clause or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ineligible for such federal funds.

Sec. 3, Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education: Establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, to receive and investigate allegations from applicants, students, or employees of covered institutions regarding admissions, financial aid, or academic programs that violate the Equal Protection Clause (as interpreted in the 2023 Supreme Court decision) or Title VI. The Special Inspector General must also review federal policies that incentivize such violations and make recommendations to the institution, the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General, and Congress on remedies, disciplinary actions, funding eligibility, further investigations, and policy reforms. The office has powers similar to other inspectors general, must maintain confidentiality of complainants, and must submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing allegations, recommendations, institutional cooperation, and data on violations. The office is authorized $25 million and sunsets 12 years after enactment.

Sec. 124, Ineligibility due to discrimination on the basis of race: Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit any institution of higher education from receiving federal student assistance or institutional aid if the Secretary of Education determines the institution had an admissions decision, policy, practice, financial aid determination, or academic program that discriminated on the basis of race in violation of the Equal Protection Clause or Title VI.