Report: Harvard has $7M per undergrad, gets $550M annually from govt
Harvard University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools in the country, has found itself in the crosshairs of the Trump administration in recent years. With billions in federal funding at stake, fiscal watchdog OpenTheBooks decided to delve into the university’s financials to uncover just how much money Harvard stands to lose.
According to OpenTheBooks’ analysis of government spending records and publicly available data, Harvard has received a whopping $4.4 billion in federal funding through grants, contracts, sub-grants, and subcontracts since the start of the Trump administration in 2017. This is a staggering amount, especially considering that Harvard has collected more in federal grants and contracts than it has gained through tuition, room, and board in any given year.
The watchdog also discovered that Harvard’s endowment, which currently sits at $53.2 billion, has grown by $14 billion since 2018, equating to a $2 billion annual increase. This means that the university has over $7 million per undergraduate student, highlighting the vast wealth that Harvard possesses.
However, this wealth has not shielded Harvard from the Trump administration’s ire. After Harvard refused to comply with President Trump’s executive directives on various issues, including antisemitism, diversity, and viewpoint diversity, the administration pulled $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year government contracts from the university. There is also the looming threat of further cuts if Harvard does not adhere to the president’s demands, potentially leading to the stripping of the school’s tax-exempt status.
Harvard has responded to these actions by suing the Trump administration, alleging that the demands infringe on the university’s autonomy and right to educate and learn free of government coercion. The battle between Harvard and the Trump administration raises critical questions about higher education autonomy and the role of government in university affairs.
In addition to the funding freeze, the Trump administration has accused Harvard of failing to report large foreign donations, as required by law, and has opened an investigation into the matter. OpenTheBooks uncovered that Harvard has accepted at least $1.1 billion in gifts or contracts from foreign sources since 2017, with top contributors being England and China. These countries have each given over $100 billion to Harvard in the last eight years, raising concerns about foreign influence on the university.
As Harvard grapples with these challenges, OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart emphasizes the importance of academic freedom and transparency in university financing. He calls on Harvard to explain its acceptance of millions from countries like China and potentially Iran proxies, as well as its allocation of tax dollars towards research and identity politics.
The ongoing saga between Harvard and the Trump administration underscores the complexities of university funding, foreign donations, and academic freedom. As the battle rages on, it remains to be seen how Harvard will navigate these challenges and uphold its reputation as a leading educational institution.
