Iowa State University and the University of Iowa each received hundreds of millions in external funding over the past fiscal year. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
As Iowa’s universities release external funding numbers for fiscal year 2025, questions remain as to what the federal funding landscape will look like in the future. However, research leaders at Iowa State University say they are optimistic about their chances of keeping dollars coming in for vital research and other areas.
Iowa State University received $549.3 million in external funding in fiscal year 2025, the university announced, of which nearly $330 million went to research. The Ames university saw record funding from three federal agencies — the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and Department of Transportation.
According to a statement provided by ISU and attributed to Associate Vice President for Research Jim Reecy and Dan Kirkpatrick, strategic communications manager for the Office of the Vice President for Research, only four projects awarded in the past fiscal year were canceled or terminated due to shifts in federal funding, totaling $822,000 in funding.
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While it is “very difficult to anticipate how the university’s federal research funding might change in the 2026 fiscal year,” the statement said, many current government priorities align with university initiatives and research, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, genomics and rural infrastructure.
“Just as they’ve adapted through changing priorities of previous administrations – and will do so for future administrations – the Iowa State research team will explore alternative and creative funding opportunities that align with their key areas of research focus,” the statement said.
Funding from federal sources made up the largest portion of the $705.6 million in external funding the University of Iowa received in fiscal year 2025, totaling $300 million. Dollars went to supporting 2,300 university projects, according to a news release, and nearly $534 million was put toward “research, scholarship, and creative activities.”
“This support reflects the value of research at the University of Iowa,” said Lois Geist, who served as the UI’s interim vice president for research during the fiscal year, in the release. “Our faculty, staff, and students are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Iowa and the world.”
In response to questions from the Iowa Capital Dispatch, UI Public Relations Manager Chris Brewer referred to the university’s federal updates website and said in an email the university has no more to add.
Cuts to federal funding have hit both universities in past months, with the UI seeing funding halt for its international writing program, Iowa Flood Center and Iowa Geological Survey initiatives and other research. Funding cuts could also impact graduate students, who are paid to teach and assist in research.
According to an article written by Kirkpatrick and posted by the university, research funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped by nearly 50%, or more than $24 million, compared to last year. The department also provided only capacity funding for research between January and May of this year, and awarded no new, competitive research grants.
ISU President Wendy Wintersteen joined a call from academic organizations and businesses across the U.S. for renewed national investment in research and development, signing a joint statement in late May in support for strengthening domestic innovation and production.
In response to a question about the possibility of separate external funding filling gaps left by rescinded federal funding, the statement said there are other avenues for revenue in the form of state government, business and industry partners, commodity groups and private foundations.
“Regardless of the federal funding environment, the team at the university will continue to explore, expand, and strengthen partnerships with non-federal sponsors in the next fiscal year and beyond,” the statement said.