Harvard Chinese Student Scholarships Under

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Harvard University over scholarships funded by Chinese donors that give preference to students from China. The investigation raises questions about the legality of similar scholarships based on country of origin at other American colleges.

Earlier this summer, the DOJ informed Harvard it had audited gifts from Chinese donors and found funds designated for scholarships with a preference for students from particular countries. The department demanded more information about the donations and the scholarship recipients. According to a letter signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, the DOJ believes these scholarships may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin in federally funded programs.

"Harvard appears to be accepting these funds with restrictions and conditions from China-based sources and then providing this student financial aid with preference to foreign students based on their national origin, presumably Chinese, to the potential detriment of persons of other national origins including citizens of the United States," the DOJ letter states. An appendix lists 13 organizations that have apparently donated toward scholarships for Chinese students.

A New Legal Frontier

The Justice Department's investigation marks the first time it has targeted scholarships based specifically on country of origin. Its rationale mirrors arguments used to challenge the legality of scholarships for racial minorities and LGBTQ+ students. The Trump administration has scrutinized foreign donations to universities since last year, citing national security and foreign influence concerns. In this case, however, the central issue is the scholarships' eligibility criteria.

The investigation follows a press release from an organization called the Global Philanthropy Accountability Project, which highlighted large 2014 donations from the SOHO China Foundation to Harvard and Yale. Yale's press release at the time said the funds would provide scholarships to low-income Chinese students. The DOJ letter lists the "Beijing SOHO China Urban Cultural Foundation" among the donor organizations. The identity of the Global Philanthropy Accountability Project is unclear; Inside Higher Ed reported that emails to the group bounced back.

Prevalence of Country-Based Awards

Scholarships based on a student's country of origin are less common than race-based awards, according to Jackie Bright of the National Scholarship Providers Association. Still, many colleges offer such funding. Awards range from small grants to substantial programs like Wesleyan University's African Scholars program, launched in 2023, which offers a full ride to about 10 African students annually.

These scholarships are often funded by international alumni, faculty, or donors with ties to a region. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said donors often create endowments to help students from their parts of the world access education. "It's good for the students, it's good for the institutions and it's good for the U.S." Aw said.

Institutional Risk and Response

The legality of such scholarships has been a gray area. Clay Harmon of AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management said institutions make their own risk assessments. Some public systems are very cautious, while others have a long history of offering such awards. Harmon suggested institutions might tweak criteria to avoid scrutiny, perhaps focusing on a student's interest in a country rather than their birthplace. So far, Bright said no such scholarships appear to have changed their language or criteria.

Only about 12.6 percent of international undergraduate students rely on institutional funding, according to the Institute of International Education. However, elite schools like Harvard often cover full financial need. A 2025 analysis by The Boston Globe found Harvard provides financial assistance to international students at a higher rate than to domestic students. Harmon warned that removing these funding opportunities further discourages international students from studying in the U.S., adding to a list of Trump administration actions experts say make the country less appealing.