Federal grants to Northwestern University
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois received $755 million in federal grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, across 967 awards. Its largest program was Mathematical and Physical Sciences, with $87.8 million. In fiscal 2025 it was awarded $112 million.
From USAspending.gov award records, updated October 31, 2026.
- Grants, FY 2021 to 2025$755 million
- Awards967
- Awarded in FY 2025$112 million
- Largest award$28.1 million
By year
| Fiscal year | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2021 | 415 | $183 million |
| FY 2022 | 404 | $151 million |
| FY 2023 | 372 | $164 million |
| FY 2024 | 335 | $144 million |
| FY 2025 | 218 | $112 million |
Programs that fund Northwestern University
| Program | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematical and Physical Sciences | 169 | $87.8 million |
| Biomedical Research and Research Training | 53 | $62.2 million |
| Computer and Information Science and Engineering | 94 | $55.0 million |
| STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) | 32 | $53.9 million |
| Engineering | 82 | $43.9 million |
| Office of Science Financial Assistance Program | 27 | $42.9 million |
| Research and Technology Development | 9 | $39.9 million |
| Basic Scientific Research | 42 | $25.5 million |
| Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program | 35 | $22.6 million |
| Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders | 24 | $22.0 million |
Awarding agencies
| Agency | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | 471 | $299 million |
| Department of Health and Human Services | 249 | $226 million |
| Department of Defense | 146 | $118 million |
| Department of Energy | 33 | $50.4 million |
| Department of Education | 13 | $30.2 million |
Largest awards
| Award | Program | First action | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate research fellowship program (GRFP) -the national science foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship program (GRFP) is a highly competitive, federal fellowship program. Grfp helps ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the united states. The progr | STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) | August 17, 2022 | $28.1 million |
| This cooperative agreement shall be performed in accordance with statement of work, entitled "normalizing timing of rhythms across internal networks o | Research and Technology Development | April 23, 2021 | $22.2 million |
| Student aid portion for public and nonprofit institutions-northwestern university | Education Stabilization Fund | April 19, 2021 | $15.1 million |
| Advanced materials center for excellence: center for hierarchical materials design (CHIMAD) | Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards | January 7, 2021 | $15.0 million |
| Center: NSF engineering research center for human augmentation via dexterity (HAND) -the work of the NSF engineering research center for human augmentation via dexterity (HAND) will lead to versatile, dexterous robotic arms and hands that address a broad range of human, industry, and societal needs. | Engineering | August 20, 2024 | $12.5 million |
| Distributed cell-free manufacturing of biologics-based medical countermeasures | Research and Technology Development | December 14, 2022 | $10.9 million |
| Hydrogen in energy and information sciences (HEISS) | Office of Science Financial Assistance Program | September 29, 2022 | $10.3 million |
| Sage grande: an open artificial intelligence testbed for edge computing and intelligent sensing -language-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming scientific research, opening new opportunities to empower discovery and broader participation through the use of natural language in | Computer and Information Science and Engineering | February 20, 2025 | $9.3 million |
| Northwestern university materials research science and engineering center -nontechnical description: the northwestern university materials research science and engineering center (nu-mrsec) advances world-class materials research, education, and outreach via active interdisciplinary collaborations w | Mathematical and Physical Sciences | June 26, 2023 | $8.7 million |
| Apto: measuring, understanding, predicting, and accelerating technology outcomes -scientific and technological (s&t) advances are key drivers of economic growth and rising standards of living and are central to improving health, maintaining a competitive workforce, and ensuring robust national secur | Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships | June 18, 2024 | $8.0 million |
Questions people ask
How much federal grant money does Northwestern University get?
$755 million in 967 grant awards from fiscal 2021 to 2025, as obligations reported to USAspending.gov.
Which agency gives Northwestern University the most?
The National Science Foundation, with $299 million in 471 awards. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense follow.
What is Northwestern University's largest federal grant?
$28.1 million under STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources), with its first action in the period on August 17, 2022. That counts only the money obligated in fiscal 2021 to 2025.
Which federal programs fund Northwestern University?
Its largest are Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Biomedical Research and Research Training and Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
Other grant recipients in Evanston
- Northwestern University
- Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
- City of Evanston
- Evanston Skokie School District 65
- Connections for the Homeless
- Questek Innovations LLC
- Underwriters Laboratories Inc
- Magnolia Land Partners Inc
Largest federal grant recipients in Illinois · Federal grants in Illinois