Highlights:
- Indian Americans have donated over $3 billion to US universities since 2008.
- 78 per cent of Indian Americans hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Indian students in the U.S. contribute $10 billion yearly to the economy.
Contributions support healthcare, engineering, business, culture, and community colleges.Indian Americans have donated more than $ 3 billion to the US universities since 2008, according to a new Indiaspora report created with Boston Consulting Group. The study has highlighted how Indian American philanthropy is shaping the future of higher education in the United States.
Many of these donors, a successful professionals, entrepreneur, and academics, credit their own US college experiences as the foundation for their careers. By investing in universities, Indian American donors who value education are putting their money where their mouth is,” said MR Rangaswami, Founder and Chairman of Indiaspora. “They’re also making a broader statement — that they believe in America’s future and want to ensure opportunity for all.”
The Indian American community places a strong emphasis on education, with 78 per cent holding a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average. Currently, about 270,000 Indian students are studying in the US, contributing almost $10 billion annually to the American economy and supporting over 93,000 jobs.
The largest share of donations has supported medical and health sciences, engineering, and business school. Cultural preservation is another focus, with $140 million given toward endowments for South Asians and Hindu and Indian students. A notable example is Sumir Chadha's donation to Princeton University, which helped establish the Chadha Center for Global India.
Major gifts have come from Indian Americans across the country. Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon's $100 million donation to NYU's School of Engineering and Indra Nooyi's $50 million to Yale's School of Management are among the most significant. Dr Kiran and Pallavi Patel in Florida, Satish and Yasmin Gupta in Texas, and Monte Ahuja in Ohio have also played key roles. Tech entrepreneur Desh Deshpande's early $20 million donations to MIT founded the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation.
“This isn’t just about giving money,” said Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director of Indiaspora. “It’s about building a lasting legacy — one that multiplies over time, gives back to society, and ensures that America’s universities continue to lead in education, innovation, and social progress.”
The report also noted that Indian Americans are supporting community colleges, city universities, and state schools, broadening access to education. Their growing influence in tech, business, and academia continues to expand this impact.
