Elite Universities Received $45 Billion in Federal Funding in 5 Years: Audit

Elite Ivy League institutions, including Stanford and Northwestern, have reportedly garnered $45 billion in federal payments, tax breaks, and subsidies over the last five years, according to the recent audit by Open The Books. The findings shed light on the financial contributions from U.S. taxpayers to some of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions, as auditors at the group found that between 2018 and 2022, 10 elite universities received roughly $33 billion in federal contracts and grants. This figure has raised eyebrows as it surpasses the total undergraduate student tuition collected by these institutions during the same period. The report further highlights an additional $12 billion in special tax treatment on the substantial gains from their collective endowments....