Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025

This bill changes how college accreditation works. It says accrediting groups can’t require or pressure colleges to take sides on political, social, or cultural issues, or judge them based on any ideology or belief. It also says they can’t push schools to treat people differently because of protected traits, unless federal law or a court requires it. In short, it aims to stop “political litmus tests” in accreditation.

The bill protects religious colleges’ ability to keep a faith-based mission, use statements of faith, or set codes of conduct that match their beliefs. It allows schools to require an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and it bars accreditors from pressuring schools to violate constitutional rights. It also limits the Education Department from adding extra rules for accreditors beyond what the law requires. A college would remain eligible for federal aid programs if it meets its accreditor’s core standards tied to federal aid, even if it doesn’t meet the accreditor’s optional, unrelated standards.

• Who is affected: Accrediting agencies; colleges and universities (including religious schools); students who rely on federal aid.
• What changes: No political or ideological tests in accreditation; protections for religious missions; permission to require a constitutional oath; no pushing schools to break constitutional rights; limits on extra federal criteria; federal aid eligibility based on core standards.
• When: Would take effect if passed into law (no specific date provided in the text).