U.S. Colleges Report $5.2 Billion in Foreign Funding in 2025, Qatar Tops List
The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled new data indicating that American colleges and universities disclosed more than $5.2 billion in foreign gifts and contracts during the year 2025. This significant financial influx was reported through over 8,300 individual transactions, all filed in compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. This legislation mandates that institutions receiving federal funding must report any foreign gifts or contracts valued at $250,000 or more on an annual basis.
Historical Context and Portal Enhancements
The latest figures elevate the total reported foreign funding to an astonishing $67.6 billion since the inception of Section 117 in 1986. In a move to bolster transparency, the Trump Administration has upgraded the foreign funding reporting portal, now featuring expanded data visualization tools and additional reporting fields. This enhanced portal makes the data publicly accessible, allowing for greater scrutiny and analysis.
Top Foreign Funding Sources and Recipient Institutions
According to the 2025 disclosures, Qatar emerged as the largest foreign funding source, contributing over $1.1 billion in reportable gifts and contracts. The list of top contributors includes:
- United Kingdom – Over $633 million
- China – Over $528 million
- Switzerland – Over $451 million
- Japan – Over $374 million
- Germany – Over $292 million
- Saudi Arabia – Over $285 million
On the receiving end, Carnegie Mellon University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) each reported close to $1 billion in foreign funding for 2025. Stanford University followed with over $775 million, while Harvard University reported more than $324 million.
Compliance Issues and National Security Concerns
The Department highlighted a compliance breach, noting that over $2 billion in foreign gifts and contracts were filed after the statutory deadline between February 28 and December 16, 2025. This delay violates reporting requirements set forth by Section 117, which aims to safeguard national security and academic integrity through public disclosure of foreign funding.
A long-term data review from 1986 to December 16, 2025, reveals that Harvard University received more than $610 million from counterparties in countries identified as "countries of concern." Other institutions with substantial disclosures from such sources include:
- MIT – Over $490 million
- New York University – Over $462 million
- Stanford University – Over $418 million
- Yale University – Over $400 million
Institutions failing to comply with Section 117 risk enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Justice and potential loss of eligibility for federal student aid programs.
New Portal and Ongoing Investigations
The Education Department recently launched a new public reporting portal, increasing available data elements by 61 percent. Officials assert that this system is designed to improve transparency and simplify institutional compliance. On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities, making stricter enforcement of foreign funding disclosures a top priority.
Since January 20, 2025, the Department has initiated four investigations under Section 117 against Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan, citing inaccurate or delayed disclosure. Disclosures submitted between December 17, 2025, and January 31, 2026, are scheduled to be uploaded to the portal by February 28, 2026.
