AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Austin announced Wednesday that billionaire Jeff Yass, co-founder of Susquehanna International Group, donated $100 million to support the institution’s mission of promoting free expression and independence from government funding. It marks the largest single gift to the school, which was founded in 2021 by journalist Bari Weiss and others as an alternative to traditional higher education.
The donation, half delivered now and half over four years, launches a $300 million campaign to permanently eliminate tuition and reliance on public subsidies. University President Carlos Carvalho said the funding model depends on philanthropy and future alumni contributions, calling it “a sustainable path for students to graduate without debt.”
Yass, who has also donated $10 million to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, said his only condition was that the university “never takes government money.” The University of Austin, which currently enrolls 150 students in liberal studies programs, expects to expand to 500 as it seeks accreditation.
The university’s model stands in contrast to nearby public institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin, which continues to weigh federal policy compliance tied to research funding.
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