• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
SuccessEducation

Universities that anticipate funding losses from Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts are yanking back admission offers to graduate students

Preston Fore
By
Preston Fore
Preston Fore
Success Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Preston Fore
By
Preston Fore
Preston Fore
Success Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 6, 2025, 12:55 PM ET
Nervous woman looks at her phone while biting her nail.
Anticipating millions of dollars in federal research funding cuts, many universities are reportedly reducing graduate program admissions.fcafotodigital/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • Faced with impending federal funding cuts, universities are reducing their graduate school programs—including rescinding offers to some unlucky Gen Zers

Universities are bracing for the impact of Elon Musk’s DOGE on their bottom line—and graduate students are feeling the brunt of the effects.

Multiple schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, West Virginia University, and University of California at San Diego, have reportedly cut back or rescinded graduate admissions offers in the wake of billions of dollars in anticipated cuts to federal research funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Wendy Roth, a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, told The New York Times that departments are being directed to cut Ph.D. admissions and “unaccept” informal offers. Another professor told The Daily Pennsylvania that one graduate program will be forced to rescind the acceptances of around 60% of its students.

The school could lose about $240 million in annual federal funding from the NIH alone. If other agencies follow similar cutting practices, the losses could reach $315 million, according to a community message from the University of Pennsylvania’s interim president, Larry Jameson. 

“These cuts by NIH will affect universities across the country, and we continue to explore legal options to address these reductions,” wrote Jameson.

Grant reductions are likely to affect nearly all universities, not just the Ivy Leagues. For example, a student at West Virginia University told local news outlet WBOY that her biomedical sciences Ph.D. program offer was abruptly rescinded. The school confirmed to Fortune that it was limiting admission to its health sciences doctoral programs “due to the unforeseen budgetary challenges resulting from proposed cuts to federal research funding.”

“Indirect costs are partial reimbursements for real costs essential to support human and physical infrastructure required for university research programs. Without support for these costs, our nation’s research universities cannot maintain research programs essential for continued national prosperity,” April Kaull, executive director of communications at West Virginia University, said in a statement.

UC–San Diego’s School of Biological Sciences is similarly cutting its doctoral program admission, with a 32% reduction this year, due to funding uncertainties at both the state and federal level, The Washington Post reported.

Program reductions could negatively impact the job market

While court challenges have already placed pauses on some NIH cuts, the uncertainty itself could have dramatic effects on research efforts in the U.S. and the future of the workforce.

Going back to school is a common practice during a rocky job market for individuals to upskill or pivot into a new career. Pairing reduced graduate school opportunities with spiking layoffs could leave thousands of workers with an unclear future. This just adds fire to the career struggles of Gen Zers—especially among men, many of whom have been frozen out of the job market.

Read more from Fortune

  • This entrepreneurial couple cashed out their 401(k)s and sold a $126 million company—now, they run a U.K. soccer team
  • Trump’s 25% tariffs are backfiring and threatening Gen Z’s trade career aspirations—putting car manufacturing jobs in peril
  • Gen Z women are being sold a risky dream: the realities behind ‘investing’ in designer bags like the Hermès Birkin
  • Like Tim Cook and Gen Z, AEG’s top exec eats the same lunch most days and wears the same outfit
  • Warren Buffett reveals the unique education strategy he took in school—and eventually paid off with a $170 billion fortune
  •  

    Other universities, like Stanford, Emory, and North Carolina State, have implemented hiring freezes to prepare for potential dramatic changes to their funding models. 

    This all comes as President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as today, directing the abolishment of the U.S. Department of Education. While experts have long placed doubt on its outright closure, reductions in programs and funding are likely to cause additional confusion among students, especially those who carry student loans.

    University representatives from the University of Pennsylvania and UC–San Diego did not immediately respond to Fortune’s requests for comment.

    Was your graduate program offer rescinded in recent weeks? Contact preston.fore@fortune.com to share your story.

    The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
    About the Author
    Preston Fore
    By Preston ForeSuccess Reporter
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Preston Fore is a reporter on Fortune's Success team.

    See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
    Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

    Latest in Success

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025

    Most Popular

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Fortune Secondary Logo
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • World's Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    • Lists Calendar
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Features
    • Leadership
    • Health
    • Commentary
    • Success
    • Retail
    • Mpw
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • CEO Initiative
    • Asia
    • Politics
    • Conferences
    • Europe
    • Newsletters
    • Personal Finance
    • Environment
    • Magazine
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    • Group Subscriptions
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • Facebook icon
    • Twitter icon
    • LinkedIn icon
    • Instagram icon
    • Pinterest icon

    Latest in Success

    nido
    Commentary250 Years of Innovation
    As an immigrant turned entrepreneur and college president, here is why I celebrate our nation as it turns 250
    By Nido R. QubeinJune 25, 2026
    1 hour ago
    Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
    SuccessBillionaires
    Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
    By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
    6 hours ago
    MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
    SuccessMacKenzie Scott
    MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
    By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
    6 hours ago
    Getting past the pilot: Why so many AI test projects have trouble scaling
    SuccessBrainstorm Tech
    Getting past the pilot: Why so many AI test projects have trouble scaling
    By Alexei OreskovicJune 24, 2026
    14 hours ago
    How ‘Ozempic face’ is pushing Gen X, already the biggest Botox and filler consumers, to the facelift table a decade early
    HealthGen X
    How ‘Ozempic face’ is pushing Gen X, already the biggest Botox and filler consumers, to the facelift table a decade early
    By Mia OsmonbekovJune 24, 2026
    16 hours ago
    Matt Garman
    Successthe future of work
    ‘Wipe out and change are different’: Amazon exec slams AI job apocalypse fears as he hires thousands of Gen Z grads
    By Preston ForeJune 24, 2026
    21 hours ago

    Most Popular

    Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
    Success
    Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
    By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
    1 day ago
    The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
    Economy
    The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
    By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
    1 day ago
    Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
    Retail
    Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
    By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
    22 hours ago
    Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
    Asia
    Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
    By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
    23 hours ago
    After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
    Success
    After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
    By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
    2 days ago
    Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
    Economy
    Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
    By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
    18 hours ago

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.