University of Illinois System
Policies & Procedures

16.4.2 What is Program Income

Program income is gross income earned by the system and university that is directly generated by a supported activity or earned as a result of the award during the period of performance.

Following are a few examples of activities that constitute program income:

  • Registration fees charged to participants or industry sponsorships to attend a conference or workshop offered under a sponsored award.
  • Fees charged for the rental or usage of real or personal property, such as computer or laboratory equipment, purchased with sponsored funds.
  • Fees earned for services performed, such as laboratory drug testing services incidental to a sponsored award.
  • Third-party patient reimbursement for hospital or other medical services; e.g., payments received from insurance companies for standard care administered to patients enrolled in a federally sponsored study on a sponsored award.
  • Revenue generated from the sales of commodities and research materials, such as tissue cultures, cell lines, research animals, publications, books, or supplies produced with sponsored funds.
  • Repayment of principal and interest on loans made with grant funds.

Following are a few examples of activities that are NOT considered program income:

  • Income earned from license fees and royalties for copyrighted material, patents, patent applications, trademarks and inventions produced under an award, royalties or license fees for unpatented, but potentially patentable discoveries that are disclosed to the Office of Technology Management (unless it is addressed in the award terms).
  • Rebates, credits, discounts, and interest earned on these items.
  • Interest earned on advances of federal funds.
  • Income earned after the end of the project period.
  • Proceeds from the sale of equipment or real property acquired in whole or in part under a sponsored award.
  • Revenue generated through programs funded by sources other than sponsored programs, for example, performing arts programs that are funded by private gifts.

First Published: August 2015 | Last Updated: March 2024 | Last Reviewed: March 2024