Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prevent accrediting agencies from imposing political or ideological litmus tests on institutions of higher education. It mandates that accrediting agencies confirm their standards do not require, encourage, or coerce institutions to support or oppose specific partisan, political, or ideological viewpoints or beliefs. Furthermore, agencies are forbidden from assessing an institution's or program's commitment to any particular ideology, belief, or viewpoint. The legislation includes specific protections, ensuring that accrediting agencies cannot prohibit institutions from maintaining a religious mission or from requiring adherence to a statement of faith or code of conduct consistent with their religious tenets. It also explicitly allows institutions to require an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the bill limits the Secretary of Education's authority to establish criteria for accrediting agencies, restricting it to only what is explicitly required by the Higher Education Act, and clarifies institutional eligibility for federal programs based on core educational standards.