What is the Higher Education Act (HEA)?

The HEA is a federal law first enacted in 1965 that governs the administration of federal higher education programs. Its primary purpose is to strengthen the educational resources of colleges and universities and provide financial assistance to students pursuing postsecondary education. The Act oversees student aid programs, distributes federal funding to institutions, and regulates teacher preparation programs.

Reauthorization Status:

• Congress is required to review and reauthorize the HEA every five years.
• It has been reauthorized in: 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2008.
• The current authorization expired at the end of 2013 and has since been extended through a series of temporary measures while Congress works on comprehensive updates.
• Recent reauthorization efforts have stalled in the post-pandemic era due to partisan gridlock. For example, the “College Cost Reduction Act” and the “Roadmap to College Student Success,” introduced in the 118th Congress, failed to secure sufficient bipartisan support.

HEA Structure (Titles I–IX):

• Title I – General provisions and definitions
• Title II – Grants for teacher education programs and recruitment
• Title III – Support for institutions serving low-income and minority students
• Title IV – Student assistance programs (scholarships, work-study, loans)
• Title V – Grants for developing institutions and Hispanic-Serving Institutions
• Title VI – International education programs
• Title VII – Grants for education innovation and community service
• Title VIII – Additional higher education support programs
• Title IX – Prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs

(Note: Title descriptions are simplified; official statutory language contains more detailed provisions.)

FSATC 2026 | Wayne Harewood

Financial aid advisor interview with Wayne Harewood.