Foreign funding in the form of gifts and contracts to US colleges will surpass $5.2 billion in 2025, with four elite institutions receiving more than half of the funding, including Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Harvard University.
On Wednesday (local time), the US Department of Education released the data and unveiled a new website it says is designed to increase the transparency of foreign funding at US universities. The development comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump continues its efforts to reshape higher education in the country.
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In a press release shared by the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education, said: “Thanks to the Trump Administration’s new Accountability Portal, Americans have unprecedented visibility into the foreign dollars that flow to our colleges and universities — including funding from countries and entities that engage in activities that threaten America’s national security. This marks a new era of transparency and easier compliance for universities and colleges that will ever be easier for America’s universities to meet their legal obligations.”
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Qatar a top source of foreign funds
The department has documented over 8,300 transactions worth over $5.2 billion. Qatar has emerged as the largest source of foreign funding for US universities, with more than $1.1 billion. The United Kingdom followed with over $633 million in funding, China offered over $528 million, Switzerland accounted for over $451 million, and Japan contributed over $374 million in gifts and contracts to US universities.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Qatar has branches of at least six American universities, including Carnegie Mellon, one of the main recipients of the funds. Carnegie Mellon recently renewed its agreements in Qatar for ten years.
Share in the funding of leading universities
According to the published report, Carnegie Mellon University was the biggest recipient, receiving nearly $1 billion, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with nearly $1 billion, Stanford University (over $775 million), and Harvard University (over $324 million).
In its press statement, the department added that from 1986 to 2025, Harvard received more funding from entities based in “countries of interest” than any other university. Since the start of Trump’s second term, federal authorities have opened investigations into Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley over claims that the schools failed to fully disclose foreign donations.
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Universities are required to report foreign donations over $250,000
Under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, universities that receive federal funds are required to disclose foreign gifts and contracts of $250,000 or more annually.
Education Department data show that US universities have disclosed a combined $67.6 billion in foreign funds since Section 117 was added to the Higher Education Act in 1986. That includes the most recent disclosure in 2025.
The Trump administration is stepping up transparency efforts
On April 23, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence in American Universities” aimed at ending the secrecy of foreign funds in American educational institutions. It also aims to protect students and research from foreign exploitation.