The university spent millions of dollars lobbying in the second quarter of 2025 in the face of a proposal from congressional Republicans to significantly increase the industry’s donation taxes and other major changes.
one Internal Advanced ED Analysis of federal lobbying spending by members of American universities and other select institutions shows that spending slightly increased in the first quarter of 2025. AAU members alone spent about $9 million in the first quarter of 2025, which significantly exceeded the same time frame in 2024.
That number rose more in the second quarter: Federal data showed AAU members spent more than $9.7 million on lobbying — a number of agencies that failed to report their number by the July 21 deadline, making the total higher. Emory University has spent the most jobs among AAU members, totaling $500,000. Among non-AAA members, Phoenix spends the most, with a price of $480,000.
Here are how many universities spent on federal lobbying in the second quarter of 2025 and what their focus was between April 1 and June 30, as reported by the required disclosure.
Lobbying expenses
Some institutions maintained similar spending levels as in the first quarter, while others significantly increased lobbying spending. Emory, for example, spent $170,000 in the first quarter of 2025. But in the second quarter, this added $330,000 to spending as lobbyists urged Congress to cut federal research and public health funding. This is the most lobbying Emory has in a quarter compared to previous years’ data.
(Emory did not respond to a request for comment.)
Emory is one of the few agencies that attacked the top ten in terms of spending, while lobbying for the highest percentage of spending, or nearly 200%. Other large amounts of lobbying jobs include Cornell University, which rose from $230,000 to $444,000 in a quarter; the University of Washington jumped from $250,000 to $440,000; and Johns Hopkins University will increase lobbying from $170,000 to $380,000.
Only the University of Washington Internal Advanced ED In lobbying for spending, spokesman Victor Balta wrote: “In view of changes in the federal policy environment, we want to make sure our representation is good so that we can continue to serve the American people through teaching and research. In addition, certain fees in our associations in these areas have been charged in these areas, or throughout the first quarter.”
According to the lobbying disclosure form, all four agencies (and with many others) have drawn attention to Congress’ federal research funding. Other major issues in the department include legislation that may limit international student enrollment and federal student aid.
Some institutions dialed back lobbying spending in the second quarter.
Northwestern University lobbled the most among single-institution AAU members in the first quarter of 2025 (excluding the University of California, lobbying as a system) – $607,000. It dropped to $306,000 in the second quarter, and despite a drop of nearly half, it still ranks in the top 10 among AAU member institutions.
Lobbying victory and loss
Higher education lobbyists seem to have achieved at least a few victories with Congress’ efforts.
Liz Clark, vice president of policy and research at the National Association of College and University Business Officials, noted at this week’s Nacubo annual meeting that recent federal legislation could implement far-reaching and expensive changes in higher education.
President Donald Trump believes it is a big beauty bill that restricts some student loan programs and cancels the Graduate Plus program, limited repayment options, and requires plans to pass an income test so that attendees can get federal student loans. Federal legislation also adjusts donation excise tax, as well as other changes to the department.
But Clark noted that a leaked memorandum that began in January was just before the bill passed in July, Congressional Republicans believed that changes would be developed further, including taxes on scholarships, significantly increasing the donation tax and cutting certain tax credits.
“In that memorandum, it’s clear that higher education is on the menu,” Clark said.
However, these changes have never been achieved as proposed. The Senate Walk Back plan significantly raises the donation tax and expands it to more institutions, opting for a softer blow, limiting it to up to 8% instead of the proposed 21%. Clark told Nacubo’s attendees that “the content that is not in the bill” is a victory for the industry.
Thad Inge, vice president of lobbying firm Van Scoyoc Associates, told Nacubo’s attendees on Monday that the leaked memo was a “real wake-up call” that “inspired a lot of advocacy.”
Inge believes many of the proposals in the memorandum are harmful to the industry, and while higher education can absorb some blows, it raises a total of “existential threats”. He attributes individual institutions to personalized efforts to join Congress.
“It’s easy to say that higher education is awakened,” Inger said. “But when people hear the sound of schools from schools in their area, they don’t draw with such a wide range of brushes. I think these cultural struggles will continue, but as advocates bringing them home, the more we do not represent all higher education struggles, but I think that makes it more personal and the easier the region wins those battles.”
Industry lobbyists are not that successful in other areas.
As the Trump administration tightens federal grants and contracts, multiple universities lobby to maintain research funding, often with little warning or explanation. So far, the federal government has nothing to do with their efforts. Similarly, many institutions advocate for the continuation of the Graduate Plus program, which was ruled by Congress in July.
Some universities also encourage Congress to withdraw policies that could undermine international enrollment and lead to delays or rejections in visa processing, such as reviewing social media posts to criticize the U.S. government and culture, while the State Department continues to do so.
