Universities and research institutions spent heavily on lobbying in 2025 to shape policy on international students, financial aid, AI governance and federal funding, a sector analysis shows. Research universities in particular ramped advocacy to fend off visa restrictions, influence financial‑aid rules, and push back on regulatory proposals affecting research and international collaboration. At the same time, legal experts and higher‑ed leaders urged institutions to form coalitions in response to government pressure on campus speech and academic programs. Speakers at recent panels called for coordinated legal and policy strategies to protect institutional autonomy and free‑speech principles. The twin moves—intensified lobbying and public calls for coalitions—reflect a sector preparing to contest state and federal mandates while safeguarding research partnerships and enrollment of international scholars.