Foreign Money in U. S. Colleges: A New Look at the Numbers

U. S. universities have just released a fresh list showing that more than five billion dollars flowed from overseas donors and contracts in 2025. The data is part of a broader effort by the current administration to shine a light on foreign influence in higher education. The list spots big names like Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, MIT and Stanford among the top recipients. Qatar tops the chart of foreign contributors, sending over a billion dollars—about one‑fifth of all overseas funds. Other major donors include the United Kingdom, China, Switzerland and Japan. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the figures give “unprecedented visibility” into money coming from countries she says threaten national security. Under existing rules, schools must report gifts or contracts over $250, 000 from foreign entities. Republicans have long argued that many institutions slip under the radar, so they want tighter reporting and greater transparency.Since President Trump’s second term began, the administration has looked into Harvard and UC Berkeley for allegedly underreporting foreign gifts. Conservative scholar Ian Oxnevad welcomed the new data, calling it a “step in the right direction. ” He pointed out that Qatar and China are among the top donors, even though they are not traditional allies. The new website also highlights “countries of concern, ” such as China, Russia and Iran. Harvard, New York University and MIT appear at the top of that list. Oxnevad warned that because Ivy League schools shape public policy, it matters that they receive large sums from abroad. Universities claim they follow the law. MIT said its research is open and publishable, no matter who funds it, and that it complies with federal reporting rules. The American Council on Education echoed this stance, noting the good job institutions are doing in reporting. Both Oxnevad and ACE vice president Sarah Spreitzer noted gaps: the data lacks detail, year‑to‑year comparisons and context. Spreitzer added that without more nuance, the information could mislead taxpayers into thinking U. S. schools are heavily dependent on foreign money. She also expressed concern about how the current administration might use the data to attack higher education.