MIT Faces Drop in Funding and Students

MIT is dealing with a sharp decline in research money and graduate numbers. Last year, federal grants fell by more than 20 percent, cutting the university’s total research budget by about 10 percent. Other sponsors have stepped up, but not enough to cover the loss from government sources. Graduate enrollment outside of the Sloan School and Master of Engineering programs fell close to 20 percent. That means roughly 500 fewer students could be studying at MIT this year. The drop is tied to federal policies that make international scholars hesitant to apply. President Sally Kornbluth says the problem started with higher taxes on the university’s endowment during a past administration. These tax hikes triggered cuts that rippled through MIT and other research schools.Even after Congress restored some funding, the university still struggles to secure money in the same way it once did. Faculty are forced to reduce the number of graduate students and postdocs, and some research projects have been halted. Kornbluth worries that this slowdown hurts not only MIT but the entire country’s scientific progress. A smaller research pipeline means fewer future scientists and slower innovation. MIT is looking for new money from industry, expanding master’s‑only programs, and boosting philanthropy. The president is meeting with lawmakers to argue for the importance of research universities in America. She stresses that the university must keep fighting for its role in national science.