U.S. colleges report over $5bn in foreign funding in 2025 |
U.S. colleges and universities received more than $5 billion in reportable foreign gifts and contracts in 2025, according to newly released data from the Department of Education. The information, published on a new federal transparency website, is part of the Trump administration’s effort to increase scrutiny of foreign influence in higher education. Qatar was the largest source of funding, contributing about $1.1 billion—over 20% of the total—followed by the United Kingdom, China, Switzerland and Japan. Major recipients included Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, MIT and Stanford University. Federal law requires schools to report foreign gifts or contracts exceeding $250,000, though concerns about underreporting have prompted calls for stronger oversight. The administration has launched investigations into some institutions over compliance issues. Supporters of the transparency push say the data provides needed insight into foreign ties, particularly involving countries such as China, Russia and Iran. However, university representatives argue that institutions comply with reporting requirements and caution that the data lacks context, such as long-term trends or detailed explanations of funding sources.
