Government Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools Contracts
NAICS 611310 · Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts totaled $2.3B across 6,670 awards from FY2024 to FY2026. In FY2026, obligations were down 11.6% from FY2025, and the Department of Defense was the largest buyer, accounting for $849M (38% of the total).
Key figures
In FY2026, contract obligations were $738,171,709 across 2,425 awards with activity that year, a change of -11.6% from $834,807,939 in FY2025. From FY2024 to FY2026, obligations totaled $2,251,532,739 across 6,670 awards.
- Obligated in FY2026
- $738M
- Awards in FY2026
- 2,425
- Change vs FY2025
- -11.6%
- Total, FY2024 to FY2026
- $2.3B
Note: FY2026 ended on Sep 30, 2026. The Department of Defense publishes contract data with a 90-day delay, so FY2026 totals may still rise as late reports arrive.
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools contract spending by year
Federal colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts per fiscal year (October to September), under NAICS 611310. The table below lists the same numbers.
| Fiscal year | Obligated | Awards | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $738,171,709 | 2,425 | -11.6% |
| FY2025 | $834,807,939 | 3,114 | +23% |
| FY2024 | $678,553,092 | 3,508 | n/a |
About government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts
Federal spending on colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts rose 9% from FY2024 ($679M) to FY2026 ($738M), peaking in FY2025. FY2026 closed recently, and Defense Department contracts are reported up to 90 days late, so its total may still rise.
Spending is spread widely: the top 3 contractors account for 31% of the total. No single company dominates, which leaves room for new and small contractors.
The Department of Defense spends the most on colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts (38%), followed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The states with the most of this work are New Jersey, California and Tennessee.
NAICS 611310 (Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools) is part of the Educational Services sector.
Top colleges, universities, and professional schools government contractors
Companies ranked by contract dollars under NAICS 611310 (Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools).
| # | Contractor | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Trustees of Princeton University | $556,313,790 | 24.7% |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $74,747,689 | 3.3% |
| 3 | The Regents of the University of California | $58,671,082 | 2.6% |
| 4 | Cubrc, Inc. | $37,988,234 | 1.7% |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $27,677,552 | 1.2% |
| 6 | Medstar-Georgetown Medical Center, Inc. | $26,625,743 | 1.2% |
| 7 | The Johns Hopkins University | $25,897,846 | 1.2% |
| 8 | Medical Faculty Associates, Inc. | $25,271,186 | 1.1% |
| 9 | University of Louisville | $25,113,479 | 1.1% |
| 10 | Arizona State University | $23,810,654 | 1.1% |
Agencies buying colleges, universities, and professional schools services
Federal agencies ranked by contract dollars under NAICS 611310.
| # | Agency | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Defense | $848,961,019 | 37.7% |
| 2 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $648,640,932 | 28.8% |
| 3 | Department of Energy | $615,435,867 | 27.3% |
| 4 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $49,382,766 | 2.2% |
| 5 | Department of Health and Human Services | $21,886,155 | 1.0% |
| 6 | Department of Homeland Security | $20,031,121 | 0.9% |
| 7 | Department of the Interior | $13,293,901 | 0.6% |
| 8 | Department of Justice | $9,365,330 | 0.4% |
| 9 | Department of Agriculture | $9,043,806 | 0.4% |
| 10 | General Services Administration | $6,823,733 | 0.3% |
Where colleges, universities, and professional schools contract work is performed
States ranked by contract dollars, using the place of performance on each award.
| # | State | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $568,887,385 | 25.3% |
| 2 | California | $178,199,623 | 7.9% |
| 3 | Tennessee | $123,771,928 | 5.5% |
| 4 | New York | $115,570,710 | 5.1% |
| 5 | Virginia | $106,458,267 | 4.7% |
| 6 | Maryland | $98,570,230 | 4.4% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $93,692,451 | 4.2% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $82,613,894 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Texas | $81,209,190 | 3.6% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $75,229,527 | 3.3% |
Recent colleges, universities, and professional schools contract awards
The latest colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts, newest first. Each award ID links to its record on USAspending.gov.
| Start date | Recipient | Agency and description | Amount | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2026 | Upmc Presbyterian Shadyside | Department of Veterans AffairsSINGLE LIVING LIVER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT | $578,900 | 36C24426P0558 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Department of Veterans AffairsANIMAL PER DIEM RATES | $375,250 | 36C24E26N0284 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Children'S Research Institute | Department of Health and Human ServicesROTATIONS FOR MEDICAL GENETICS AND GENOMIC MEDICINE RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS - CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE | $160,000 | 75N98026P01895 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service | Department of Homeland SecurityTHE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZED NATIONAL-LEVEL FUNCTIONAL TRAINING CURRICULA DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE SYSTEM P | $348,331 | 70FA2026F00000064 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | University of Louisville | Department of Veterans AffairsTHORACIC SURGERY SERVICES - EXERCISE OPTION PERIOD 3 | $89,843 | 36C24926N0723 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Suny Stony Brook | Department of Veterans AffairsINTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY PHYSICIAN SERVICES WITH EDUCATIONAL AFFILIATE | $144,074 | 36C24226C0123 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Thomas Jefferson University | Department of Health and Human ServicesNIDDK - CLINICAL COHORTS WITH DATASET AND ASSOCIATED IMAGE | $35,000 | 75N98026P01876 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | West Virginia University Research Corporation | Department of Health and Human ServicesCOMBUSTION CONTRACT | $236,640 | 75D30126P21156 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | University of Wisconsin System | Department of Veterans AffairsTHIS REQUIREMENT SUPPORTS A VA MERIT-FUNDED RESEARCH PROGRAM INVESTIGATING MECHANISMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS AND JOINT DEGENERATION RELEVANT TO VETERAN MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH | $20,587 | 36C25226C0060 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Iafci | Department of JusticeMISSION CRITICAL - APPREHENDING FUGITIVES BPA CALL #1: IOD/TOG/FSU IAFCI CF: APC-FY26-000416 | $14,300 | 15M10226FA4700154 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | Trustees of Boston University | Department of Health and Human ServicesDYNAMIC GENOME: MITOCHONDRIAL CHIP CALLING | $57,589 | 75N98026P01712 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | West Virginia University Research Corporation | Department of Health and Human ServicesACIB STUDY TO EVALUATE TOXICITY PROFILES OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF GRAPHENES | $349,000 | 75D30126C21691 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Department of CommerceDOBSON HUT REPLACEMENT | $95,000 | 1333MJ26P0094 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | The Regents of the University of Colorado | National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationBY DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A SPEECHBASED AI SYSTEM TAILORED TO THE MARS EXPLORATION ANALOG (MEA), THE STUDY AIMS TO PROVIDE NASA PSYCHOLOGISTS WITH INTERPRETABLE, DATADRIVEN INDICATORS THAT CAN ENHA | $227,526 | 80NSSC26P1728 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | University of Maine System | Department of Health and Human ServicesEO 14398-BAA FY26C1JP17 - DETERMINING THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF PFAS CONTAMINATION IN DAIRY CATTLE ACROSS LACTATIONS | $1,994,855 | 75F40126C00120 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Northern Illinois University | Department of Health and Human ServicesEO 14398 TESTING KNEE SAVER DEVICES | $24,500 | 75D30126P21642 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | University of South Florida | Department of Veterans AffairsANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES. | $69,862 | 36C24826C0052 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Auburn University | Department of AgricultureSOUTHERN FOREST NURSERY MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE DUES FOR THE SE FOREST SCIENCE LABORATORY | $41,900 | 12444026P0203 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Purdue University | Department of Health and Human ServicesTHE PROPOSED BAA RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN LYOPHILIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR PHARMACEUTICALS AND BIOLOGICS, WHICH WILL IN TURN SUPPORT EFFICIENCIES IN ASSESSMENT OF NEW BIOLOGICS AND | $1,365,711 | 75F40126C00085 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Loyola University of Chicago | Department of Veterans AffairsEO 14398 LIVING DONOR SERVICES FOR HINES VAH | $2,300 | 36C25226N0595 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Loyola University of Chicago | Department of Veterans AffairsEO 14398 LIVING DONOR SERVICES FOR HINES VAH | $2,300 | 36C25226N0592 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Loyola University of Chicago | Department of Veterans AffairsEO 14398 LIVING DONOR SERVICES FOR HINES VAH | $2,300 | 36C25226N0591 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. | Department of JusticeMISSION CRITICAL - APPREHENDING FUGITIVES BPA CALL #1: IOD/TOG SANS (SYSADMIN, AUDIT, NETWORK, SECURITY) INSTITUTE CF: APC-FY26-000401 | $275,000 | 15M10226FA4700134 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Victoria University | Department of CommerceECONOMIC MODELLING | $190,000 | 1331L526P13500085 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Cornell University | Department of AgriculturePROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF SUGAR BEET REQUIRED BY COMMODITY UTILIZATION RESEARCH UNIT AT SRRC. | $27,011 | 123A9426P0034 |
Open colleges, universities, and professional schools government bids
The newest open notices from SAM.gov. Bidding needs a free SAM.gov registration.
Dept of Defense · Sources Sought · NAICS 611310
Posted Oct 29, 2026 · Responses due Nov 30, 2026
How to win government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts
Federal colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts are posted on SAM.gov under NAICS 611310. Register your business free on SAM.gov with this code, watch for colleges, universities, and professional schools bids, and look for small business set-asides: many colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts for small business are reserved for small firms.
Explore government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts by state, agency and contractor
- Department of Defense contracts
- Department of Veterans Affairs contracts
- Department of Energy contracts
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts
- Department of Health and Human Services contracts
- Government contracts in New Jersey
- Government contracts in California
- Government contracts in Tennessee
- Government contracts in New York
- Government contracts in Virginia
- The Trustees of Princeton University government contracts
- The Regents of the University of California government contracts
Frequently asked questions
- What NAICS code is used for government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts?
- Federal colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts use NAICS 611310 (Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools). List this code in your free SAM.gov registration to be found for these contracts.
- Who are the largest colleges, universities, and professional schools government contractors?
- By contract dollars under NAICS 611310 from FY2024 to FY2026, the largest were The Trustees of Princeton University ($556M), Vanderbilt University Medical Center ($74.7M) and The Regents of the University of California ($58.7M).
- Which agencies buy the most colleges, universities, and professional schools?
- From FY2024 to FY2026, the biggest buyers were the Department of Defense ($849M), the Department of Veterans Affairs ($649M) and the Department of Energy ($615M).
- Where are government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts performed?
- By contract dollars, the most federal colleges, universities, and professional schools work is performed in New Jersey ($569M), California ($178M) and Tennessee ($124M).
- Is federal spending on colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts growing?
- Federal colleges, universities, and professional schools contract obligations rose 9% from FY2024 ($679M) to FY2026 ($738M), peaking in FY2025. FY2026 closed recently, and Defense Department contracts are reported up to 90 days late, so its total may still rise.
- Do I qualify as a small business for colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts?
- It depends on the SBA size standard for NAICS 611310, which is set either by average annual revenue or by number of employees. Check the current table of size standards on sba.gov before you bid on small business set-asides.
- What do I need to bid on government colleges, universities, and professional schools contracts?
- An active SAM.gov registration (free) with NAICS 611310 listed, the licenses and insurance your state requires for colleges, universities, and professional schools work, and examples of similar past work. Some solicitations also ask for specific certifications or security clearances.