Ciscomani Leads Bipartisan Effort to Bring Down the Cost of Higher Education

September 3, 2026 Press Release 'As a community college alum, first-generation college graduate, and Pell Grant recipient, I know firsthand how life-changing access to higher education can be and how it can change the trajectory of a young person’s life and make the American Dream possible.' Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani and Susie Lee of Nevada are leading an effort to make higher education more affordable and accessible for American families by creating a matched-savings program, which has already had success in many states. The Earn to Learn Act would address rising and unsustainable higher education costs and is aimed at assisting low-income students, including adult learners, in paying for tuition, books, and school fees. Congressman Ciscomani has experienced the challenges that come with higher education costs and believes in making education more affordable so students in Southern Arizona and across the nation can earn their degree without excessive student loan debt. Ciscomani has supported Earn to Learn since Mrs. Hoffman first proposed it in the 2010s. "As a community college alum, first-generation college graduate, and Pell Grant recipient, I know firsthand how life-changing access to higher education can be and how it can change the trajectory of a young person’s life and make the American Dream possible," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. "Earn to Learn has a proven track record in Arizona, equipping students who need it most with the resources and financial tools they need to succeed. At a time when our nation faces a growing skilled labor shortage, we should take this proven matched-savings model nationwide to help students finance their education, build strong financial literacy, and gain the skills they need to strengthen our workforce. I’m proud to join Representative Lee in introducing the bipartisan Earn to Learn Act to reduce student loan debt, make higher education more affordable, and expand opportunity for young Americans across the country. Every student deserves the same opportunity to attend college, pursue their goals, and build a better future." "Education is the key to opportunity. Like many, I put myself through college with the help of scholarships, loans, and a number of part-time jobs. Unfortunately, the cost of higher education has skyrocketed, and it’s beyond cost-prohibitive for far too many American families," said Rep. Susie Lee. "We need this bipartisan, commonsense bill to make higher education less expensive and to ensure opportunities to study, train, and learn key skills are truly accessible to everyone." The Earn to Learn Act is modeled after the successful Earn to Learn program, which helps students in Arizona complete their education and training without the burden of significant debt. Students who qualify for the program deposit $500 into an educational savings account, which is then matched by $8 for each $1 through public, university, and philanthropic support. As a result, program participants have the ability to earn up to $4,500 per academic year for their higher education expenses. Earn to Learn has shown great success at the state level, with scholars having a first-year retention rate of almost 90%, and the majority of Earn to Learn students graduating with less than $10,000 in student loan debt. The demonstration matched-savings program created by the Earn to Learn Act would further strengthen the program’s success by enabling an estimated 250,000 scholarships throughout the span of five years. "So many Earn to Learn students come from families where college never felt possible, and often, the greatest barrier is cost. For more than a decade, Earn to Learn has helped change that reality. Earn to Learn empowers underserved students who have the desire and determination to earn a postsecondary degree but may not have the financial means to get there. Through flexible scholarship funding that addresses both the cost of education and the everyday barriers students face, paired with wraparound support to help them persist, graduate, and move into meaningful careers, Earn to Learn is making the promise of postsecondary education attainable. And the model works. Earn to Learn students graduate at twice the rate of their peers, while taking on significantly less student loan debt, and for many, none at all," said Kate Hoffman, Founder and CEO, Earn to Learn. "What began here in Arizona now reaches students in eight states and continues to grow. The Earn to Learn Act represents an opportunity to take this proven model nationwide, giving low-income students in communities across the country the chance not simply to enroll in a postsecondary education, but to persist, graduate, and build a stronger economic future for themselves and their families." The Earn to Learn Act is supported by the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University, as well as several philanthropic organizations across Arizona. "The earlier a student starts saving for college, the more likely they are to apply, enroll, and finish,” said Mary Venezia, Associate Dean of Admissions at University of Arizona. "Earn to Learn builds that mindset years before a student ever sets foot on campus, and the University of Arizona is proud to work closely with their efforts to support student success across Arizona." "SALC believes education policy should expand opportunity, strengthen workforce readiness, and help more students successfully complete postsecondary education or career training," said Ted Maxwell, President & CEO, Southern Arizona Leadership Council. "The Earn to Learn Act takes a practical approach to those goals by helping low-income students overcome financial barriers while building the financial skills and support they need to succeed. This kind of investment in student success is also an investment in Arizona’s workforce and long-term economic competitiveness. We appreciate Congressman Ciscomani’s leadership in advancing this proven approach." "The Chamber of Southern Arizona is proud to partner with Earn to Learn and support its work to remove financial barriers to higher education," said Karla Morales, Chief Partnerships Officer, The Chamber of Southern Arizona. "By helping students access education, develop strong financial habits, and graduate with little or no student debt, Earn to Learn is strengthening our workforce and creating pathways to long-term economic opportunity. The Earn to Learn Act would help expand this proven model to students and workforce learners across the country, and we are pleased to support this important effort." Rep. Ciscomani is a longstanding advocate for education across Southern Arizona, from kindergarten through college. From introducing the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act (H.R. 7086), to fighting for federal funding to expand workforce training at Pima JTED , to voting for a $10 million increase in Head Start funding, the congressman is committed to fighting for each student to have the resources they need at the federal level to build a brighter future. Letters of support for the Earn to Learn Act came from the following groups including: Pima Community College, Arizona State University, Arizona Technology Council, Third Sector, Transfr, ARIZONA@WORK-Southeastern Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Televerde Foundation, Nevada Bankers Association (NBA), Pima JTED, Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, Hughes Federal Credit Union, The Jim Click Automotive Team, Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA), Bank On Arizona, Dress for Success Arizona, Talent First, Vantage West Credit Union, and Western Governors University (WGU). ### Issues : Education