MIT graduate enrollment falls 20 percent following $100 million federal research cut

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology enrolled nearly 500 fewer graduate students this fall, a 20 percent drop compared to 2024. MIT President Sally Kornbluth attributed the reduction directly to a $100 million cut in federal research awards to the institution during that same period. Kornbluth made the remarks at the STAT Summit in Boston on Wednesday.

Graduate students at the university are largely supported by these grants. Kornbluth explained that the institution adopts a conservative approach to admissions to avoid enrolling students who might run out of funding partway through their Ph.D. programs. "I wish I had a crystal ball and knew when things were going to turn around, but for now we're just being cautious," Kornbluth said.

The enrollment decline occurs at a time when 95 percent of MIT students are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The university's decision reflects a broader concern among U.S. science leaders regarding the role of the American university as the White House shifts its focus toward artificial intelligence and technology.