Skip to main content
S 3474 112th Congress Senate Education Consumer affairs Education programs funding Government lending and loan guarantees Higher education Licensing and registrations Marketing and advertising Student aid and college costs Vocational and technical education

Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act

Introduced: August 1, 2012 Introduced by: Merkley, Jeff Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 1, 2012
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug 1, 2012
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act - Makes any institution of higher education (IHE) postsecondary program designed to prepare students for a recognized occupation or profession requiring licensing or other entry pre-conditions ineligible to participate in a federal financial assistance program, unless it meets specified student consumer protection requirements.

Requires each program to: (1) fully prepare students to satisfy those entry pre-conditions in the state in which the program is operated and in any state the program claims a successful program graduate will be prepared to work in the particular occupation or profession involved; (2) provide timely placement of students in required pre-licensure positions, such as internships or apprenticeships; and (3) meet specialized state accreditation requirements, or notify students if the program has not yet been fully accredited.

Requires an IHE to notify out-of-state applicants as to whether or not its program satisfies the requirements of the applicant's state.

What's happening now August 1, 2012

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6717 Identical bill Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Aug 2, 2012
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3474: Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-3474/
MLA
"S. 3474: Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-3474/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3474, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-3474/.
Markdown link
[S. 3474: Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-3474/)
Report a problem