Boston U.

Rankings

Data year Earned doctorates Full-time graduate students Total R&D expenditures
Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked
2023 46 90.3 459 30 95.8 679 64 89.6 602 46 95.1 914
2022 48 89.8 457 27 96.2 680 43 95.4 900
2021 53 88.5 447 26 96.4 691 63 89.4 583 43 95.4 908
2020 50 89.2 450 31 95.7 698 48 94.9 916
2019 59 87.1 447 26 96.4 697 58 90.4 589 50 94.7 914
2018 50 88.6 428 31 95.8 700 52 94.4 911
2017 51 88.3 425 35 95.1 684 61 89.6 575 57 93.8 898
2016 45 89.8 430 33 95.4 697 57 93.8 896
2015 42 90.4 426 33 95.4 693 57 90.3 570 57 93.8 898
2014 38 91.3 422 30 95.8 688 59 93.5 889
NOTES:
  • 1. See TableBuilder for the prior year data.
  • 2. Blank white cells indicate data not available, not applicable, or institution not eligible for survey.
  • 3. Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

Data

Number of earned doctorates, by trend major field of study of recipients: 2023–14
Fields 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All fields 392 369 315 337 311 342 345 384 399 421
  Science and engineering 313 302 255 275 250 261 280 302 241 285
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources 2 2 . 4 1 1 1 1 . .
      Agricultural sciences . 1 . . . . . 1 . .
      Natural resources and conservation 2 1 . 4 1 1 1 . . .
    Biological and biomedical sciences 81 84 72 82 72 67 89 99 78 101
      Biochemistry and biophysics 4 7 6 4 7 7 10 12 9 14
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 4 3 5 6 3 2 1 11 6 3
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 18 13 19 19 25 12 14 17 17 28
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy 2 . 1 3 3 1 2 1 5 3
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 7 14 6 7 5 12 8 3 11 7
      Genetics and genomics . . 1 2 1 3 2 4 1 1
      Microbiology and immunology 8 9 7 8 2 5 4 7 4 3
      Molecular biology 17 9 6 10 3 6 5 5 8 8
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 12 20 12 14 13 8 21 18 9 19
      Pharmacology and toxicology 5 3 5 3 2 2 4 5 2 4
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 3 5 4 3 5 6 14 7 6 9
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other 1 1 . 3 3 3 4 9 . 2
    Computer and information sciences 20 15 8 10 9 7 11 9 3 7
      Computer science 17 12 8 10 8 7 11 8 3 5
      Computer and information sciences, other 3 3 . . 1 . . 1 . 2
    Engineering 80 76 55 66 53 49 52 60 41 52
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 1 . . . . . . . . .
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 23 23 18 20 26 22 14 23 15 22
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 1 . 1 . . . . . . .
      Electrical and computer engineering 22 25 16 16 8 11 17 15 10 12
      Industrial engineering and operations research 7 5 8 10 4 4 4 5 6 6
      Materials and mining engineering 7 6 4 5 5 5 2 7 3 4
      Mechanical engineering 18 15 6 14 10 7 13 9 7 7
      Engineering, other 1 2 2 1 . . 2 1 . 1
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 10 5 1 5 3 2 4 11 4 5
      Geological sciences 6 4 1 3 3 . 1 8 4 4
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences 4 1 . 2 . 2 3 3 . 1
    Health sciences 15 11 20 8 14 29 37 19 6 12
      Pharmaceutical sciences . . . 1 . . . . . 2
      Public health 6 4 11 2 7 12 6 6 4 .
      Health sciences, other 9 7 9 5 7 17 31 13 2 10
    Mathematics and statistics 14 17 15 5 10 5 5 10 7 10
      Applied mathematics 2 . 2 2 2 . 1 2 2 1
      Mathematics . 3 3 3 1 . . 1 . 1
      Statistics 6 7 4 . 3 4 1 1 1 2
      Mathematics and statistics, other 6 7 6 . 4 1 3 6 4 6
    Physical sciences 31 32 27 37 29 32 29 30 24 37
      Astronomy and astrophysics 6 3 5 4 4 3 7 2 1 2
      Chemistry 14 16 11 20 9 10 9 12 6 15
      Physics 11 13 11 13 16 19 13 16 17 20
    Psychology 17 10 16 20 16 19 19 15 17 23
      Clinical psychology 8 6 7 5 9 6 8 2 6 8
      Counseling and applied psychology 1 1 2 5 1 5 2 2 4 2
      Research and experimental psychology 6 3 6 9 6 7 7 4 4 8
      Psychology, other 2 . 1 1 . 1 2 7 3 5
    Social sciences 43 50 41 38 43 50 33 48 61 38
      Anthropology 6 2 6 3 8 5 1 3 8 1
      Economics 21 34 22 18 14 19 14 25 24 20
      Political science and government 4 3 4 4 6 7 6 6 11 4
      Public policy analysis . . . . . . . 1 1 2
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 4 5 3 4 4 7 3 3 3 4
      Social sciences, other 8 6 6 9 11 12 9 10 14 7
  Non-science and engineering 79 67 60 62 61 81 65 82 158 136
    Business 5 14 11 7 2 11 6 8 9 7
      Business 5 14 11 7 2 11 6 8 9 7
    Education 25 8 6 1 1 14 21 14 48 53
      Education leadership and administration 18 . . . . 6 4 5 3 1
      Education research 3 3 1 . 1 8 11 7 7 6
      Teacher education and teaching fields 3 4 4 1 . . 5 1 37 43
      Education, other 1 1 1 . . . 1 1 1 3
    Humanities and arts 44 37 39 48 53 49 36 57 100 75
      Letters 7 7 3 6 9 15 7 9 10 5
      Foreign languages and literature 4 3 6 4 5 5 5 6 2 4
      History 9 5 7 9 5 8 5 7 11 3
      Philosophy and religious studies 9 11 9 13 17 8 9 11 19 10
      Music and performing arts 2 1 . 3 1 1 1 5 37 32
      Humanities and arts, other 13 10 14 13 16 12 9 19 21 21
    Other non-science and engineering 5 8 4 6 5 7 2 3 1 1
      Communication 1 1 2 1 . . . . . .
      Public administration and social services 4 3 2 5 5 3 2 3 1 1
      Non-science and engineering, other . 4 . . . 4 . . . .

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
    Male 2,217 2,253 2,255 1,903 2,153 1,584 1,462 1,830 1,782 1,855
    Female 2,453 2,690 2,704 2,402 2,430 2,079 1,867 1,952 1,984 1,935
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents 2,462 2,645 2,737 2,585 2,505 2,150 2,033 2,329 2,406 2,398
    Hispanic or Latino 282 293 291 243 214 190 170 182 176 160
    Not Hispanic or Latino 2,072 2,239 2,318 2,176 2,112 1,761 1,677 1,934 1,954 1,971
      American Indian or Alaska Native 1 3 2 3 1 1 7 4 7 6
      Asian 431 403 388 397 387 376 348 366 359 350
      Black or African American 129 154 168 132 120 115 106 101 110 90
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 3 3 2 3 2 1 3 4 2
      White 1,387 1,562 1,644 1,546 1,507 1,199 1,141 1,388 1,395 1,455
      More than one race 121 114 113 96 94 68 74 72 79 68
    Unknown ethnicity and race 108 113 128 166 179 199 186 213 276 267
  Temporary visa holders 2,208 2,298 2,222 1,720 2,078 1,513 1,296 1,453 1,360 1,392
  Science and engineering 4,106 4,183 4,241 3,661 3,951 2,924 2,658 2,996 3,031 3,115
    Science 3,254 3,301 3,336 2,863 3,102 2,417 2,145 2,257 2,329 2,297
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 1,283 1,233 1,265 1,186 1,126 1,099 1,053 809 982 964
        Neurobiology and neuroscience 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58 79 67
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 25 13
      Computer and information sciences 606 633 486 220 461 294 196 202 172 165
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 62 66 62 50 48 6 7 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 319 348 355 354 359 339 301 90 82 60
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 8 9 22 40 35 45 32 81 71 76
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 255 240 233 227 230 55 38 216 218 222
      Psychology 225 230 265 232 198 139 138 171 140 158
      Social sciences 496 542 648 554 645 440 380 604 560 572
    Engineering 852 882 905 798 849 507 513 739 702 818
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 253 262 240 226 211 77 82 179 167 164
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 246 264 272 225 272 166 185 258 258 329
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 59 54 74 68 71 30 36 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 182 179 177 159 164 118 129 143 125 161
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 58 79 90 68 80 57 28 53 47 53
      Other engineering 54 44 52 52 51 59 53 106 105 111
    Health 564 760 718 644 632 739 671 786 735 675
      Clinical medicine 339 430 506 371 392 505 471 626 575 496
      Other health 225 330 212 273 240 234 200 160 160 179

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Part-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
    Male 703 753 677 724 895 1,659 1,707 912 772 747
    Female 1,007 940 876 851 798 1,338 1,370 696 605 595
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents 1,231 1,268 1,299 1,257 1,277 2,095 2,221 1,342 1,165 1,209
    Hispanic or Latino 150 155 135 100 102 185 195 113 93 82
    Not Hispanic or Latino 974 990 1,013 999 977 1,641 1,735 1,090 950 987
      American Indian or Alaska Native 0 1 0 0 4 5 5 1 2 2
      Asian 190 205 199 202 192 257 263 196 156 170
      Black or African American 102 102 108 113 88 124 133 117 86 88
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 3 2 3
      White 642 644 673 650 665 1,196 1,273 741 681 698
      More than one race 40 38 32 34 28 56 58 32 23 26
    Unknown ethnicity and race 107 123 151 158 198 269 291 139 122 140
  Temporary visa holders 479 425 254 318 416 902 856 266 212 133
  Science and engineering 1,312 1,378 1,287 1,347 1,467 2,742 2,809 1,298 1,119 1,082
    Science 1,139 1,183 1,150 1,148 1,290 2,203 2,320 1,131 996 965
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 345 338 315 305 264 378 335 143 172 190
        Neurobiology and neuroscience 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 4
      Computer and information sciences 483 524 507 535 706 921 976 865 714 676
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 4 4 2 0 0 37 19 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 57 42 41 29 58 89 71 10 8 4
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 2 4 6 13 12 7 9 9 17 14
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 5 1 1 1 2 179 184 3 1 2
      Psychology 25 32 26 32 21 84 93 9 12 10
      Social sciences 218 238 252 233 227 508 633 85 69 60
    Engineering 173 195 137 199 177 539 489 167 123 117
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 23 14 18 16 9 141 138 5 6 7
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 66 73 41 70 69 185 174 92 67 58
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 17 29 14 22 16 55 43 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 45 48 35 47 41 100 78 42 27 21
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 16 14 11 14 21 43 44 12 10 8
      Other engineering 6 17 18 30 21 15 12 16 13 23
    Health 398 315 266 228 226 255 268 310 258 260
      Clinical medicine 339 285 255 211 214 236 232 310 258 254
      Other health 59 30 11 17 12 19 36 0 0 6

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health receiving primary support from federal sources, by field: 2023–14
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
All surveyed fields 235 256 242 227 271 170 132 599 650 630 0
  Science and engineering 189 209 198 184 233 139 113 559 624 595 0
    Science 169 189 181 172 213 139 113 407 449 406 0
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 154 174 161 142 175 123 99 142 131 118 0
        Neurobiology and neuroscience 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 53 38 0
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 34 27 30 0
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 1 4 8 8 4 1 0 0 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 9 6 4 0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 0 0 0 16 15 15 14 38 50 42 0
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 7 4 5 2 7 0 0 88 112 91 0
      Psychology 4 5 3 2 4 0 0 29 27 40 0
      Social sciences 2 2 1 0 4 0 0 41 43 43 0
    Engineering 20 20 17 12 20 0 0 152 175 189 0
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 14 15 13 8 12 0 0 57 75 69 0
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 1 2 2 2 3 0 0 48 55 64 0
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 3 2 2 2 4 0 0 25 22 33 0
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 9 10 0
      Other engineering 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 12 14 13 0
    Health 46 47 44 43 38 31 19 40 26 35 0
      Clinical medicine 46 47 43 41 37 31 19 27 18 25 0
      Other health 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 13 8 10 0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by type and primary source of support: 2023–14
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All types and sources of support 4,670 4,943 4,959 4,305 4,583 3,663 3,329 3,782 3,766 3,790
  Fellowships 94 124 469 492 280 182 181 453 395 373
    Federal 76 94 71 104 127 55 52 120 113 101
    Institutional 12 25 392 384 137 118 108 299 262 238
    Nonfederal 6 5 6 4 16 9 21 34 20 34
  Research assistantships 1,075 1,106 484 435 488 216 170 690 771 776
    Federal 109 129 146 111 123 110 77 476 535 526
    Institutional 929 946 314 314 357 100 84 147 198 178
    Nonfederal 37 31 24 10 8 6 9 67 38 72
  Teaching assistantships 457 439 371 365 395 109 129 376 330 363
    Federal 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Institutional 457 439 358 362 395 109 129 375 328 363
    Nonfederal 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
  Other types of support 3,044 3,274 3,635 3,013 3,420 3,156 2,849 2,263 2,270 2,278
    Federal 50 33 19 9 21 5 3 3 2 3
    Institutional 844 738 1,020 957 956 385 459 119 163 133
    Nonfederal 138 138 106 103 103 128 98 110 103 98
    Personal resources 2,012 2,365 2,490 1,944 2,340 2,638 2,289 2,031 2,002 2,044

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Postdoctorates in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
  Science and engineering 249 242 226 217 281 265 264 255 285 308
    Science 189 183 171 174 219 194 195 171 198 200
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 94 84 78 85 95 87 104 67 72 84
        Neurobiology and neuroscience 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 8
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 4 2 3 4 3 4 4 5 9 6
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 11 7 7 9 12 9 9 13 12 14
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 10 10 5 4 14 12 8 6 13 10
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 40 42 40 37 56 46 42 48 46 35
      Psychology 17 23 25 23 23 23 19 20 26 29
      Social sciences 13 15 13 12 15 12 8 10 13 14
    Engineering 60 59 55 43 62 71 69 84 87 108
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 34 39 33 25 43 42 38 44 45 49
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 16 13 14 11 12 16 21 23 25 20
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 1 0 1 1 2 6 5 0 1 1
      Mechanical engineering 9 6 7 6 4 7 5 17 16 14
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Other engineering 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24
    Health 48 55 51 62 78 102 84 73 136 136
      Clinical medicine 32 36 32 35 51 70 58 48 106 111
      Other health 16 19 19 27 27 32 26 25 30 25

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Federally supported science, engineering, and health postdoctorates, by field: 2023–14
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All surveyed fields 202 169 187 177 224 260 226 225 300 339
  Science and engineering 162 132 146 130 160 184 168 167 195 236
    Science 112 97 106 103 120 129 120 108 134 153
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 59 49 57 62 70 68 70 43 49 61
        Neurobiology and neuroscience 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 8
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 2 0 1 2 1 2 1 3 6 4
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 0 2 3 3 4 3 4 9 10 11
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 4 3 2 0 2 5 5 2 5 6
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 28 24 20 18 27 26 23 28 26 31
      Psychology 15 15 15 8 7 16 11 14 19 21
      Social sciences 4 4 8 10 9 9 6 9 12 11
    Engineering 50 35 40 27 40 55 48 59 61 83
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 29 21 20 16 28 34 27 33 34 36
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 12 12 13 6 8 13 17 18 19 16
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1
      Mechanical engineering 8 2 7 5 4 7 3 8 7 6
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Other engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24
    Health 40 37 41 47 64 76 58 58 105 103
      Clinical medicine 22 24 26 28 44 52 38 35 80 84
      Other health 18 13 15 19 20 24 20 23 25 19

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Total R&D expenditures, by field: 2023–14
(Dollars in thousands)
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
  All R&D fields 773,200 725,402 652,096 583,267 534,205 484,205 421,360 395,921 388,336 367,328
    Science 614,608 599,162 545,734 468,433 430,659 352,851 334,479 319,117 320,256 307,747
      Computer and information sciences 22,142 17,480 14,542 14,251 11,919 5,055 3,046 3,913 4,522 4,655
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 10,080 9,399 7,876 8,573 8,701 7,105 6,807 7,222 7,419 6,984
        Atmospheric science and meteorology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Geological and earth sciences 10,070 9,390 7,876 8,571 8,701 7,105 6,807 7,222 6,529 5,644
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences 10 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 890 1,340
      Life sciences 486,968 485,379 445,535 373,079 338,089 272,397 265,371 260,922 251,829 242,286
        Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Biological and biomedical sciences 211,743 189,654 168,310 163,939 150,669 112,076 99,214 64,422 65,116 61,289
        Health sciences 275,110 295,414 276,870 208,709 187,252 158,951 165,583 194,391 179,531 172,198
        Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 1,128 500 0 0 0
        Life sciences nec 115 311 355 431 168 242 74 2,109 7,182 8,799
      Mathematics and statistics 5,008 4,935 5,039 5,199 5,236 4,842 3,709 4,003 4,042 2,962
      Physical sciences 42,374 38,445 35,094 30,909 30,805 29,879 27,450 25,220 33,547 34,203
        Astronomy and astrophysics 3,238 3,237 2,256 2,677 2,335 2,403 2,152 2,471 2,453 1,748
        Chemistry 21,277 17,896 17,695 14,230 13,712 13,092 11,420 9,864 9,173 9,803
        Materials science 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Physics 17,859 17,312 15,143 14,002 14,758 14,384 13,878 12,885 20,456 21,036
        Physical sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,465 1,616
      Psychology 26,387 24,237 22,092 20,413 21,872 21,097 18,863 12,230 13,607 13,207
      Social sciences 14,027 12,084 9,041 7,931 7,962 7,983 5,022 4,013 3,661 3,191
        Anthropology 777 540 516 539 710 603 167 171 0 0
        Economics 3,270 3,772 3,551 1,824 1,736 2,566 1,248 1,326 1,225 1,089
        Political science and government 301 451 416 306 422 482 605 473 308 359
        Sociology, demography, and population studies 1,546 784 489 529 571 453 361 244 545 734
        Social sciences nec 8,133 6,537 4,069 4,733 4,523 3,879 2,641 1,799 1,583 1,009
      Sciences nec 7,622 7,203 6,515 8,078 6,075 4,493 4,211 1,594 1,629 259
    Engineering 111,856 91,643 79,757 85,651 78,154 83,013 64,275 60,000 52,011 46,103
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 2,425 1,867 1,582 1,746 1,385 1,132 883 698 642 554
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 47,983 39,008 33,185 35,868 28,847 31,349 26,971 28,170 26,622 22,560
      Chemical engineering 8 35 232 188 38 140 0 0 0 0
      Civil engineering 0 0 0 0 0 205 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering 20,187 18,718 18,580 22,851 22,146 28,794 19,628 14,017 12,550 10,769
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering 8,685 6,406 5,260 2,635 1,478 1,706 602 278 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 14,764 12,965 10,930 10,916 11,721 10,545 9,546 9,612 5,595 3,958
      Metallurgical and materials engineering 1,371 988 1,220 1,020 796 987 241 65 5,948 3,973
      Engineering nec 16,433 11,656 8,768 10,427 11,743 8,155 6,404 7,160 654 4,289
    Non-S&E 46,736 34,597 26,605 29,183 25,392 48,341 22,606 16,804 16,069 13,478
      Business management and business administration 7,238 6,289 6,056 7,766 5,800 4,590 3,655 3,442 3,583 1,179
      Communication and communications technologies 743 749 559 628 1,017 379 754 130 83 605
      Education 15,922 10,744 8,378 9,023 8,399 8,988 6,100 3,898 3,276 3,642
      Humanities 12,128 7,971 3,697 2,736 2,443 2,279 1,602 2,651 3,033 3,624
      Law 4,380 3,908 4,204 3,992 3,711 27,480 6,627 3,054 3,084 1,672
      Social work 5,062 4,246 3,456 4,354 3,330 4,001 3,337 3,173 2,238 1,784
      Visual and performing arts 421 315 80 123 144 7 1 2 1 13
      Non-S&E nec 842 375 175 561 548 617 530 454 771 959

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Prior to FY 2016, expenditures for natural resources and conservation, materials science, anthropology, and industrial and manufacturing engineering were not collected separately. R&D expenditures in agricultural sciences decreased in FY 2016 because a number of disciplines previously reported in that field are now reported separately under natural resources and conservation.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Total R&D expenditures, by source of funds and R&D field: 2023
(Dollars in thousands)
Field All R&D expenditures Federal government State and local government Institution funds Business Nonprofit organizations All other sources
  All R&D fields 773,200 409,551 500 230,370 23,362 93,532 15,885
    Science 614,608 336,292 374 159,688 20,053 83,051 15,150
      Computer and information sciences 22,142 8,749 0 9,911 3,151 192 139
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 10,080 6,716 68 2,585 40 582 89
        Atmospheric science and meteorology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Geological and earth sciences 10,070 6,716 68 2,585 40 582 79
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences 10 0 0 0 0 0 10
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Life sciences 486,968 274,668 286 107,741 16,037 73,713 14,523
        Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Biological and biomedical sciences 211,743 132,253 159 55,117 11,724 11,593 897
        Health sciences 275,110 142,415 127 52,509 4,313 62,120 13,626
        Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Life sciences nec 115 0 0 115 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 5,008 2,753 0 1,523 0 685 47
      Physical sciences 42,374 26,252 0 14,741 403 861 117
        Astronomy and astrophysics 3,238 1,621 0 1,611 0 6 0
        Chemistry 21,277 11,916 0 8,543 403 324 91
        Materials science 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Physics 17,859 12,715 0 4,587 0 531 26
        Physical sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Psychology 26,387 14,547 0 8,633 279 2,905 23
      Social sciences 14,027 1,028 20 8,617 143 4,079 140
        Anthropology 777 179 0 531 0 56 11
        Economics 3,270 382 0 2,761 25 12 90
        Political science and government 301 0 0 301 0 0 0
        Sociology, demography, and population studies 1,546 35 20 1,095 0 396 0
        Social sciences nec 8,133 432 0 3,929 118 3,615 39
      Sciences nec 7,622 1,579 0 5,937 0 34 72
    Engineering 111,856 62,597 0 41,230 2,882 4,665 482
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 2,425 2,402 0 12 0 11 0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 47,983 25,862 0 17,075 1,519 3,461 66
      Chemical engineering 8 0 0 8 0 0 0
      Civil engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering 20,187 10,860 0 8,324 507 443 53
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering 8,685 5,565 0 2,388 315 126 291
      Mechanical engineering 14,764 8,502 0 5,250 350 615 47
      Metallurgical and materials engineering 1,371 0 0 1,371 0 0 0
      Engineering nec 16,433 9,406 0 6,802 191 9 25
    Non-S&E 46,736 10,662 126 29,452 427 5,816 253
      Business management and business administration 7,238 209 0 6,449 0 580 0
      Communication and communications technologies 743 0 0 659 0 35 49
      Education 15,922 7,883 72 6,002 231 1,688 46
      Humanities 12,128 15 0 9,007 0 2,949 157
      Law 4,380 15 0 3,924 0 441 0
      Social work 5,062 2,540 54 2,148 196 123 1
      Visual and performing arts 421 0 0 421 0 0 0
      Non-S&E nec 842 0 0 842 0 0 0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Prior to FY 2016, expenditures for natural resources and conservation, materials science, anthropology, and industrial and manufacturing engineering were not collected separately. R&D expenditures in agricultural sciences decreased in FY 2016 because a number of disciplines previously reported in that field are now reported separately under natural resources and conservation.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Federally funded R&D expenditures, by federal agency: 2023–14
(Dollars in thousands)
Source of funds 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Federal Agencies 409,551 413,102 402,443 339,172 318,511 284,888 259,832 253,475 259,736 257,017
  DOD 20,847 20,741 17,764 20,249 16,585 19,041 19,198 19,480 19,652 19,457
  DOE 8,055 6,972 6,138 6,403 5,270 5,132 5,326 6,160 6,073 7,133
  HHS 319,715 329,129 327,940 261,969 245,176 213,850 194,638 189,425 191,718 188,605
  NASA 11,762 10,452 8,154 8,621 6,618 5,825 5,430 6,064 5,930 4,593
  NSF 33,870 35,437 33,284 32,444 35,582 32,316 27,708 25,229 28,370 28,979
  USDA 453 310 389 560 440 346 174 167 308 569
  Other 14,849 10,061 8,774 8,926 8,840 8,378 7,358 6,950 7,685 7,681

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Headcount of R&D personnel: 2023–17 [temporarily discontinued]
Year
2023 . . . .
2022 . . . .
2021 . . . .
2020 . . . .
2019 4,451 820 3,631 .
2018 4,300 770 3,530 .
2017 4,138 772 3,366 .

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Science and engineering research space in academic institutions, by field: 2023–14
(Net assignable square feet in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space 2023 2021 2019 2017 2015
  All research space 1,067 1,060 1,055 1,042 1,008
    Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Biological and biomedical sciences 532 539 524 505 578
    Computer and information sciences 27 8 7 12 10
    Engineering 156 161 170 155 106
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 19 20 17 16 24
    Health sciences 188 195 198 208 80
    Mathematics and statistics 4 4 2 2 4
    Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0
    Physical sciences 101 96 99 109 155
    Psychology 14 17 17 24 46
    Social sciences 26 19 20 11 5
    Other 0 0 0 0 0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

New construction of science and engineering research space, by field and time of construction: 2025–16
(Net assignable square feet in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space Planned to start in FY 2024 or FY 2025 Started in FY 2022 or FY 2023 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021 Started in FY 2018 or FY 2019 Started in FY 2016 or FY 2017 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021
  All research space . . 124,000 . . 0
    Computer and information sciences . . 88,571 . . 0
    Mathematics and statistics . . 35,429 . . 0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

Costs for repair and renovation of science and engineering research space in academic institutions, by field and time of repair and renovation: 2025–16
(Dollars in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space Planned to start in FY 2024 or FY 2025 Started in FY 2022 or FY 2023 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021 Started in FY 2018 or FY 2019 Started in FY 2016 or FY 2017
  All research space 1,249 62,701 18,385 28,306 29,921
    Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Biological and biomedical sciences 298 10,783 8,491 14,771 12,808
    Computer and information sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 468 8,778 4,856 8,958 5,368
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Health sciences 483 13,799 2,758 3,399 7,321
    Mathematics and statistics 0 0 0 0 0
    Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0
    Physical sciences 0 15,026 2,280 1,178 4,141
    Psychology 0 14,314 0 0 283
    Social sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Other 0 0 0 0 0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

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