College Federal Aid Now Tied to International Boycott Rules: What It Means for Tuition and Study Abroad

The “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025” is changing the rules for colleges that rely on federal funding, which is basically all of them. This bill ties a school’s ability to access crucial federal money—the kind that pays for student aid (Title IV) and academic programs (Title VI)—to its willingness to avoid certain international boycotts.

The Fine Print on Federal Student Aid

Section 2 of this bill makes it mandatory for colleges receiving Title IV student aid funds (think Pell Grants and federal loans) to submit an annual certification to the Secretary of Education. By July 31st every year, the school has to promise that it won’t engage in a “nonexpressive commercial boycott” against a designated “major strategic partner” of the U.S. This is where it gets real: a nonexpressive commercial boycott means taking commercial actions to limit business with a partner without a legitimate business reason. If a college misses that July 31st deadline, the Secretary has to publicly list them within seven business days. That public listing is the first step toward losing access to Title IV funds, which would be catastrophic for institutions and the students who rely on that aid to pay tuition.

Academic Freedom Meets Foreign Policy

Section 3 takes things a step further, focusing on Title VI funds, which support international education programs, language studies, and area studies centers. To get this money, colleges must certify that they will treat students and professors from these “major strategic partners” exactly the same as those from any other foreign country. This applies both ways: the school must allow its own students to study abroad or conduct research with the partner and welcome the partner’s students and faculty to their campus under the same conditions. The stated goal here is to ensure that academic institutions don't restrict engagement with these key foreign partners, which Congress believes is vital for U.S. security and economic interests.

The Real-World Impact on Students and Schools

For students, this bill creates a direct link between their school’s foreign policy stance and their ability to afford college. If a university, perhaps under pressure from student or faculty groups, decides to participate in a commercial boycott against a country designated as a “major strategic partner,” it risks losing its Title IV funding. This isn’t just about the school’s budget; it means federal financial aid disappears for every student enrolled. For a student relying on a Pell Grant, this policy decision could suddenly make their chosen college unaffordable.

For universities, this introduces a major compliance headache and a potential conflict with internal advocacy groups. If a university is found to be non-compliant—or if the Secretary of Education interprets an action as a “nonexpressive commercial boycott”—the financial consequences are immediate and severe. Furthermore, the vagueness around what constitutes a “nonexpressive commercial boycott” means institutions might err on the side of extreme caution, potentially chilling legitimate academic or expressive activities to protect their federal funding lifeline. Essentially, the bill uses the threat of cutting off student aid to enforce specific foreign policy alignment within the higher education sector.