Throughout U.S. history, government involvement and influence have been apparent in top universities and colleges throughout the country. Although many of the first universities were private or church-founded, early public universities arose to play a critical role in American society. The first public school, the University of Georgia, was founded following a charter from the state, with South Carolina following suit years later. In the 19th century, public universities made up a sliver of higher educational institutions. Because of this, the 1862 Morrill Act was introduced, declaring that the federal government would grant land to individual states to sell in order to fund public universities. This act led to the establishment of college systems in major states later in the century. In 1890, an addition to the Morrill Act was passed, aiming to limit racial discrimination in admissions to public universities.
In the modern era, thousands of public colleges and universities make up 40% of the intricate education system in the United States, with around 75% attending the institutions. Public universities often cost a substantial amount less than private universities. However, government investment has decreased significantly in recent decades, causing a massive influx in the cost of tuition. From 2002 to 2022, tuition at public universities grew 144%, while private institutions saw a growth of 171%, or 211% for in-state residents.
In the past century, the US government has utilized and funded diverse research projects spanning many different top universities. Before, university research was usually funded by private investors, philanthropic organizations, or state governments. However, around WWII, government interest surged, and the Office of Scientific Research and Development was commissioned to launch federal involvement in defense research in schools. The Cold War and the launch of Sputnik were also major events that stirred action to continue research and discovery. 60 billion dollars of funding were invested into universities by 2023, with government funding comprising a major portion.
Following the development of modern academic institutions, enrollment of international students has become a dominant topic in federal involvement in university admissions. The Immigration Act of 1924 first introduced the formal enrollment of international students. In addition, the Fulbright Program, a federal exchange program for international students, contributed to the promotion of global studies in schools with the underlying motive of strengthening and dominating international relations. Although the practice continued to expand and grow, the government increased surveillance following the 9/11 incident, founding the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System in order to continue to monitor enrollment.
Under the current Trump administration, federal relations with universities and research programs have begun to falter and shift. With Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the president seeks to dismantle the Department of Education. The pair stated that the facilitation and responsibility of financial aid and student loan services would be assumed by the Small Business Administration, while special needs and nutrition programs would be transferred to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Also, the administration has fought to gain increased control and influence in universities deemed to be subject to antisemitic, left-wing, or “woke” ideologies by cutting billions of federal funding to said institutions. The government has demanded the suspension and expulsion of students involved in movements such as pro-Palestinian protests following the adoption of many pro-Israel policies. Many establishments have attempted to come to a settlement, although many have filed lawsuits against claims made by the government. Most notably, Harvard University claimed that the administration was performing an illegal extension of federal authority. In response, Trump ordered the freezing of $2 billion of funding to the school, although the action was later found illegal in court under the infringement of the First Amendment.
Federal cuts also extended to research conducted in universities on topics such as climate change, vaccination efforts, LGBTQIA+ themes, and the Covid Pandemic. Anti-DEI sentiments resulted in the termination of access to a multitude of online sources and hundreds of books in libraries. International students have also been targeted by recent actions, as 300 student visas were revoked by March 2025 on the basis of spreading antisemitism and supporting the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas. Columbia University student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after participating in anti-war protests, a prime example of the administration’s efforts to suppress activism.
“American Higher Education’s Past Was Gilded, Not Golden.” AAUP, 2022, www.aaup.org/academe/issues/fall-2022/american-higher-educations-past-was-gilded-not-golden.
Brief, A. “A Brief History of U.S. Research Funding.” Brownalumnimagazine.com, 2025, www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2025-09-21/a-brief-history-of-us-research-funding-university-grants.
Knox, Liam. “Chronicling Trump’s Evolving International Student Policies.” Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs, 2025, www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2025/06/03/chronicling-trumps-evolving-international-student.
Miller, Jake. “A Brief History of Federal Funding for Basic Science.” Harvard.edu, 18 Apr. 2025, magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/brief-history-federal-funding-basic-science.
“Overview and History of International Students in the U.S.” Presidents’ Alliance, www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/effective_practice/history-of-and-perceptions-about-international-students-in-the-u-s/.