CU research spending faces $87M decline
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The University of Colorado expects to spend nearly $90 million less on research next fiscal year, including a $60 million drop at CU Boulder alone.
Why it matters: Federal funding cuts are punching a hole in CU's research budget, even as the university system grows overall.
Driving the news: The CU regents approved a $6.8 billion total budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 through June 30, 2027.
- That's up $164 million, or 2.5%, from the current year, largely driven by tuition enrollment growth, higher tuition revenue and increased state funding.
Yes, but: CU anticipates research spending to fall $87.1 million because of federal funding cuts under President Trump.
- CU Boulder accounts for the bulk of that decline, with a projected $60.4 million loss tied to 59 research award cancellations or stop-work orders since January 2025.
Between the lines: Boulder is especially exposed because of its close ties to the region's network of federal research labs.
Zoom in: CU Anschutz saw the biggest budget increase, fueled by growth in its health care enterprise, which generates nearly $1.9 billion — the system's biggest revenue source.
- Meanwhile, Colorado Springs is the only campus projecting a budget decline, driven by falling enrollment.
By the numbers:
- CU Boulder: $2.54 billion, up $30 million (0.9%).
- CU Denver: $407 million, up $3.2 million (0.8%).
- CU Anschutz: $3.53 billion, up $140 million (4.1%).
- UCCS: $369.9 million, down $1.9 million (-0.5%).
State of play: All four campuses are raising tuition by roughly 3% to 4%.
- Boulder, Denver and Anschutz expect enrollment growth helping support larger budgets.
- But several campuses project declines in international enrollment as the Trump administration has enacted policies affecting international students.
The bottom line: Tuition and enrollment gains are helping CU offset broader budget pressure, but research losses are hitting Boulder hardest.