Boston U.

Rankings

Data year Earned doctorates Full-time graduate students Total R&D expenditures Research space
Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked
2024 44 90.7 459 30 95.4 631 48 95 925
2023 46 90.3 459 30 95.8 679 46 95.1 911 64 89.6 602
2022 50 89.4 457 27 96.2 680 43 95.4 900
2021 53 88.5 447 26 96.4 691 43 95.4 908 63 89.4 583
2020 50 89.2 450 31 95.7 698 48 94.9 916
2019 59 87.1 447 26 96.4 697 50 94.7 914 58 90.4 589
2018 50 88.6 428 31 95.8 700 52 94.4 911
2017 51 88.3 425 35 95.1 684 57 93.8 898 61 89.6 575
2016 45 89.8 430 33 95.4 697 57 93.8 896
2015 42 90.4 426 33 95.4 693 57 93.8 898 57 90.3 570
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: 2024–15
Fields 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All fields 394 392 363 315 337 311 342 345 384 399
  Science and engineering 316 313 296 255 275 250 261 280 302 241
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources 2 2 2 . 4 1 1 1 1 .
      Agricultural sciences . . 1 . . . . . 1 .
      Natural resources and conservation 2 2 1 . 4 1 1 1 . .
    Biological and biomedical sciences 76 81 82 72 82 72 67 89 99 78
      Biochemistry and biophysics 9 4 7 6 4 7 7 10 12 9
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 4 4 3 5 6 3 2 1 11 6
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 13 18 13 19 19 25 12 14 17 17
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy 1 2 . 1 3 3 1 2 1 5
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 8 7 14 6 7 5 12 8 3 11
      Genetics and genomics 4 . . 1 2 1 3 2 4 1
      Microbiology and immunology 6 8 9 7 8 2 5 4 7 4
      Molecular biology 7 17 8 6 10 3 6 5 5 8
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 17 12 19 12 14 13 8 21 18 9
      Pharmacology and toxicology 3 5 3 5 3 2 2 4 5 2
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 3 3 5 4 3 5 6 14 7 6
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other 1 1 1 . 3 3 3 4 9 .
    Computer and information sciences 13 20 15 8 10 9 7 11 9 3
      Computer science 11 17 12 8 10 8 7 11 8 3
      Computer and information sciences, other 2 3 3 . . 1 . . 1 .
    Engineering 78 80 73 55 66 53 49 52 60 41
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering . 1 . . . . . . . .
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 25 23 22 18 20 26 22 14 23 15
      Chemical and petroleum engineering . 1 . 1 . . . . . .
      Electrical and computer engineering 27 22 24 16 16 8 11 17 15 10
      Industrial engineering and operations research 5 7 5 8 10 4 4 4 5 6
      Materials and mining engineering 8 7 6 4 5 5 5 2 7 3
      Mechanical engineering 12 18 14 6 14 10 7 13 9 7
      Engineering, other 1 1 2 2 1 . . 2 1 .
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 8 10 5 1 5 3 2 4 11 4
      Geological sciences 4 6 4 1 3 3 . 1 8 4
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences 4 4 1 . 2 . 2 3 3 .
    Health sciences 24 15 11 20 8 14 29 37 19 6
      Pharmaceutical sciences . . . . 1 . . . . .
      Public health 12 6 4 11 2 7 12 6 6 4
      Health sciences, other 12 9 7 9 5 7 17 31 13 2
    Mathematics and statistics 13 14 17 15 5 10 5 5 10 7
      Applied mathematics . 2 . 2 2 2 . 1 2 2
      Mathematics . . 3 3 3 1 . . 1 .
      Statistics 10 6 7 4 . 3 4 1 1 1
      Mathematics and statistics, other 3 6 7 6 . 4 1 3 6 4
    Physical sciences 35 31 31 27 37 29 32 29 30 24
      Astronomy and astrophysics 3 6 3 5 4 4 3 7 2 1
      Chemistry 20 14 16 11 20 9 10 9 12 6
      Physics 12 11 12 11 13 16 19 13 16 17
    Psychology 24 17 10 16 20 16 19 19 15 17
      Clinical psychology 9 8 6 7 5 9 6 8 2 6
      Counseling and applied psychology 1 1 1 2 5 1 5 2 2 4
      Research and experimental psychology 6 6 3 6 9 6 7 7 4 4
      Psychology, other 8 2 . 1 1 . 1 2 7 3
    Social sciences 43 43 50 41 38 43 50 33 48 61
      Anthropology 4 6 2 6 3 8 5 1 3 8
      Economics 20 21 34 22 18 14 19 14 25 24
      Political science and government 9 4 3 4 4 6 7 6 6 11
      Public policy analysis . . . . . . . . 1 1
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 5 4 5 3 4 4 7 3 3 3
      Social sciences, other 5 8 6 6 9 11 12 9 10 14
  Non-science and engineering 78 79 67 60 62 61 81 65 82 158
    Business 9 5 14 11 7 2 11 6 8 9
      Business 9 5 14 11 7 2 11 6 8 9
    Education 9 25 8 6 1 1 14 21 14 48
      Education leadership and administration 3 18 . . . . 6 4 5 3
      Education research 4 3 3 1 . 1 8 11 7 7
      Teacher education and teaching fields . 3 4 4 1 . . 5 1 37
      Education, other 2 1 1 1 . . . 1 1 1
    Humanities and arts 53 44 37 39 48 53 49 36 57 100
      Letters 8 7 7 3 6 9 15 7 9 10
      Foreign languages and literature 5 4 3 6 4 5 5 5 6 2
      History 9 9 5 7 9 5 8 5 7 11
      Philosophy and religious studies 11 9 11 9 13 17 8 9 11 19
      Music and performing arts 3 2 1 . 3 1 1 1 5 37
      Humanities and arts, other 17 13 10 14 13 16 12 9 19 21
    Other non-science and engineering 7 5 8 4 6 5 7 2 3 1
      Communication 3 1 1 2 1 . . . . .
      Public administration and social services 2 4 3 2 5 5 3 2 3 1
      Non-science and engineering, other 2 . 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: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents   2,634   2,462   2,645   2,737   2,585   2,505   2,150   2,033   2,329   2,406
    Hispanic or Latino   272   282   293   291   243   214   190   170   182   176
    Not Hispanic or Latino   2,212   2,072   2,239   2,318   2,176   2,112   1,761   1,677   1,934   1,954
      American Indian or Alaska Native   2   1   3   2   3   1   1   7   4   7
      Asian   478   431   403   388   397   387   376   348   366   359
      Black or African American   149   129   154   168   132   120   115   106   101   110
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   1   3   3   3   2   3   2   1   3   4
      White   1,451   1,387   1,562   1,644   1,546   1,507   1,199   1,141   1,388   1,395
      More than one race   131   121   114   113   96   94   68   74   72   79
    Unknown ethnicity and race   150   108   113   128   166   179   199   186   213   276
  Temporary visa holders   2,133   2,208   2,298   2,222   1,720   2,078   1,513   1,296   1,453   1,360
  Science and engineering   4,221   4,106   4,183   4,241   3,661   3,951   2,924   2,658   2,996   3,031
    Science   3,335   3,254   3,301   3,336   2,863   3,102   2,417   2,145   2,257   2,329
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   1,336   1,283   1,233   1,265   1,186   1,126   1,099   1,053   809   982
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   26   25
      Computer and information sciences   518   606   633   486   220   461   294   196   202   172
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   69   62   66   62   50   48   6   7   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   328   319   348   355   354   359   339   301   90   82
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   79   8   9   22   40   35   45   32   81   71
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   280   255   240   233   227   230   55   38   216   218
      Psychology   221   225   230   265   232   198   139   138   171   140
      Social sciences   504   496   542   648   554   645   440   380   604   560
    Engineering   886   852   882   905   798   849   507   513   739   702
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   286   253   262   240   226   211   77   82   179   167
      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   231   246   264   272   225   272   166   185   258   258
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   55   59   54   74   68   71   30   36   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   187   182   179   177   159   164   118   129   143   125
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   74   58   79   90   68   80   57   28   53   47
      Other engineering   53   54   44   52   52   51   59   53   106   105
    Health   546   564   760   718   644   632   739   671   786   735
      Clinical medicine   330   339   430   506   371   392   505   471   626   575
      Other health   216   225   330   212   273   240   234   200   160   160

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: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents   1,703   1,231   1,268   1,299   1,257   1,277   2,095   2,221   1,342   1,165
    Hispanic or Latino   222   150   155   135   100   102   185   195   113   93
    Not Hispanic or Latino   1,304   974   990   1,013   999   977   1,641   1,735   1,090   950
      American Indian or Alaska Native   1   0   1   0   0   4   5   5   1   2
      Asian   327   190   205   199   202   192   257   263   196   156
      Black or African American   139   102   102   108   113   88   124   133   117   86
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   1   0   0   1   0   0   3   3   3   2
      White   773   642   644   673   650   665   1,196   1,273   741   681
      More than one race   63   40   38   32   34   28   56   58   32   23
    Unknown ethnicity and race   177   107   123   151   158   198   269   291   139   122
  Temporary visa holders   401   479   425   254   318   416   902   856   266   212
  Science and engineering   1,695   1,312   1,378   1,287   1,347   1,467   2,742   2,809   1,298   1,119
    Science   1,537   1,139   1,183   1,150   1,148   1,290   2,203   2,320   1,131   996
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   323   345   338   315   305   264   378   335   143   172
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   5   3
      Computer and information sciences   627   483   524   507   535   706   921   976   865   714
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   3   4   4   2   0   0   37   19   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   24   57   42   41   29   58   89   71   10   8
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   247   2   4   6   13   12   7   9   9   17
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   1   5   1   1   1   2   179   184   3   1
      Psychology   25   25   32   26   32   21   84   93   9   12
      Social sciences   287   218   238   252   233   227   508   633   85   69
    Engineering   158   173   195   137   199   177   539   489   167   123
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   19   23   14   18   16   9   141   138   5   6
      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   54   66   73   41   70   69   185   174   92   67
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   17   17   29   14   22   16   55   43   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   48   45   48   35   47   41   100   78   42   27
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   11   16   14   11   14   21   43   44   12   10
      Other engineering   9   6   17   18   30   21   15   12   16   13
    Health   409   398   315   266   228   226   255   268   310   258
      Clinical medicine   309   339   285   255   211   214   236   232   310   258
      Other health   100   59   30   11   17   12   19   36   0   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 receiving primary support from federal sources, by field: 2024–15
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All surveyed fields   248   235   256   242   227   271   170   132   599   650
  Science and engineering   201   189   209   198   184   233   139   113   559   624
    Science   180   169   189   181   172   213   139   113   407   449
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   168   154   174   161   142   175   123   99   142   131
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   34   27
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   4   1   4   8   8   4   1   0   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   1   1   0   2   2   3   0   0   9   6
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   0   0   0   0   16   15   15   14   38   50
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   4   7   4   5   2   7   0   0   88   112
      Psychology   2   4   5   3   2   4   0   0   29   27
      Social sciences   1   2   2   1   0   4   0   0   41   43
    Engineering   21   20   20   17   12   20   0   0   152   175
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   14   14   15   13   8   12   0   0   57   75
      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   2   1   2   2   2   3   0   0   48   55
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   3   3   2   2   2   4   0   0   25   22
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   2   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   10   9
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   12   14
    Health   47   46   47   44   43   38   31   19   40   26
      Clinical medicine   47   46   47   43   41   37   31   19   27   18
      Other health   0   0   0   1   2   1   0   0   13   8

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: 2024–15
Type and primary source of support 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All types and sources of support   4,767   4,670   4,943   4,959   4,305   4,583   3,663   3,329   3,782   3,766
  Fellowships   73   94   124   469   492   280   182   181   453   395
    Federal   57   76   94   71   104   127   55   52   120   113
    Institutional   15   12   25   392   384   137   118   108   299   262
    Nonfederal   1   6   5   6   4   16   9   21   34   20
  Research assistantships   978   1,075   1,106   484   435   488   216   170   690   771
    Federal   127   109   129   146   111   123   110   77   476   535
    Institutional   823   929   946   314   314   357   100   84   147   198
    Nonfederal   28   37   31   24   10   8   6   9   67   38
  Teaching assistantships   532   457   439   371   365   395   109   129   376   330
    Federal   3   0   0   6   3   0   0   0   0   0
    Institutional   529   457   439   358   362   395   109   129   375   328
    Nonfederal   0   0   0   7   0   0   0   0   1   2
  Other types of support   3,184   3,044   3,274   3,635   3,013   3,420   3,156   2,849   2,263   2,270
    Federal   61   50   33   19   9   21   5   3   3   2
    Institutional   1,082   844   738   1,020   957   956   385   459   119   163
    Nonfederal   40   138   138   106   103   103   128   98   110   103
    Personal resources   2,001   2,012   2,365   2,490   1,944   2,340   2,638   2,289   2,031   2,002

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: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  Science and engineering   265   254   241   241   217   256   265   264   255   285
    Science   209   191   183   183   172   198   194   195   171   198
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   102   97   87   86   86   95   87   104   67   72
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   4   4   3   4   5   3   4   4   5   9
      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   1   1   1   2   0
      Mathematics and statistics   11   10   8   8   8   10   9   9   13   12
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   22   11   8   5   4   11   12   8   6   13
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   37   37   38   39   33   44   46   42   48   46
      Psychology   17   19   24   26   22   20   23   19   20   26
      Social sciences   16   13   15   15   14   14   12   8   10   13
    Engineering   56   63   58   58   45   58   71   69   84   87
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   30   38   38   33   26   39   42   38   44   45
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   0   0   0   0   0   1   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   16   13   16   12   12   16   21   23   25
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   1   1   1   1   2   6   5   0   1
      Mechanical engineering   9   8   5   8   6   4   7   5   17   16
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Health   55   60   66   63   67   80   102   84   73   136
      Clinical medicine   37   36   40   38   36   52   70   58   48   106
      Other health   18   24   26   25   31   28   32   26   25   30

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: 2024–15
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All surveyed fields   189   202   169   187   177   224   260   226   225   300
  Science and engineering   153   162   132   146   130   160   184   168   167   195
    Science   118   112   97   106   103   120   129   120   108   134
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   64   59   49   57   62   70   68   70   43   49
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   2   2   0   1   2   1   2   1   3   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   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   1   0   2   3   3   4   3   4   9   10
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   5   4   3   2   0   2   5   5   2   5
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   26   28   24   20   18   27   26   23   28   26
      Psychology   13   15   15   15   8   7   16   11   14   19
      Social sciences   7   4   4   8   10   9   9   6   9   12
    Engineering   35   50   35   40   27   40   55   48   59   61
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   16   29   21   20   16   28   34   27   33   34
      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   12   13   6   8   13   17   18   19
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   1   0   0   0   0   1   1   0   1
      Mechanical engineering   7   8   2   7   5   4   7   3   8   7
      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   0
    Health   36   40   37   41   47   64   76   58   58   105
      Clinical medicine   21   22   24   26   28   44   52   38   35   80
      Other health   15   18   13   15   19   20   24   20   23   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

Total R&D expenditures, by field: 2024–15
(Dollars in thousands)
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  All R&D fields   784,355   773,200   725,402   652,096   583,267   534,205   484,205   421,360   395,921   388,336
    Science   620,747   614,608   599,162   545,734   468,433   430,659   352,851   334,479   319,117   320,256
      Computer and information sciences   25,666   22,142   17,480   14,542   14,251   11,919   5,055   3,046   3,913   4,522
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   9,396   10,080   9,399   7,876   8,573   8,701   7,105   6,807   7,222   7,419
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   9,386   10,070   9,390   7,876   8,571   8,701   7,105   6,807   7,222   6,529
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   10   10   9   0   2   0   0   0   0   0
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   890
      Life sciences   474,359   486,968   485,379   445,535   373,079   338,089   272,397   265,371   260,922   251,829
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   227,552   211,743   189,654   168,310   163,939   150,669   112,076   99,214   64,422   65,116
        Health sciences   246,732   275,110   295,414   276,870   208,709   187,252   158,951   165,583   194,391   179,531
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   1,128   500   0   0
        Life sciences nec   75   115   311   355   431   168   242   74   2,109   7,182
      Mathematics and statistics   6,099   5,008   4,935   5,039   5,199   5,236   4,842   3,709   4,003   4,042
      Physical sciences   47,955   42,374   38,445   35,094   30,909   30,805   29,879   27,450   25,220   33,547
        Astronomy and astrophysics   2,952   3,238   3,237   2,256   2,677   2,335   2,403   2,152   2,471   2,453
        Chemistry   23,717   21,277   17,896   17,695   14,230   13,712   13,092   11,420   9,864   9,173
        Materials science   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Physics   21,286   17,859   17,312   15,143   14,002   14,758   14,384   13,878   12,885   20,456
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1,465
      Psychology   31,819   26,387   24,237   22,092   20,413   21,872   21,097   18,863   12,230   13,607
      Social sciences   16,190   14,027   12,084   9,041   7,931   7,962   7,983   5,022   4,013   3,661
        Anthropology   969   777   540   516   539   710   603   167   171   0
        Economics   2,733   3,270   3,772   3,551   1,824   1,736   2,566   1,248   1,326   1,225
        Political science and government   619   301   451   416   306   422   482   605   473   308
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   2,141   1,546   784   489   529   571   453   361   244   545
        Social sciences nec   9,728   8,133   6,537   4,069   4,733   4,523   3,879   2,641   1,799   1,583
      Sciences nec   9,263   7,622   7,203   6,515   8,078   6,075   4,493   4,211   1,594   1,629
    Engineering   114,080   111,856   91,643   79,757   85,651   78,154   83,013   64,275   60,000   52,011
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   2,042   2,425   1,867   1,582   1,746   1,385   1,132   883   698   642
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   45,847   47,983   39,008   33,185   35,868   28,847   31,349   26,971   28,170   26,622
      Chemical engineering   58   8   35   232   188   38   140   0   0   0
      Civil engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   205   0   0   0
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   22,098   20,187   18,718   18,580   22,851   22,146   28,794   19,628   14,017   12,550
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   8,112   8,685   6,406   5,260   2,635   1,478   1,706   602   278   0
      Mechanical engineering   17,526   14,764   12,965   10,930   10,916   11,721   10,545   9,546   9,612   5,595
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   2,078   1,371   988   1,220   1,020   796   987   241   65   5,948
      Engineering nec   16,319   16,433   11,656   8,768   10,427   11,743   8,155   6,404   7,160   654
    Non-S&E   49,528   46,736   34,597   26,605   29,183   25,392   48,341   22,606   16,804   16,069
      Business management and business administration   9,654   7,238   6,289   6,056   7,766   5,800   4,590   3,655   3,442   3,583
      Communication and communications technologies   885   743   749   559   628   1,017   379   754   130   83
      Education   17,319   15,922   10,744   8,378   9,023   8,399   8,988   6,100   3,898   3,276
      Humanities   9,816   12,128   7,971   3,697   2,736   2,443   2,279   1,602   2,651   3,033
      Law   4,814   4,380   3,908   4,204   3,992   3,711   27,480   6,627   3,054   3,084
      Social work   5,661   5,062   4,246   3,456   4,354   3,330   4,001   3,337   3,173   2,238
      Visual and performing arts   675   421   315   80   123   144   7   1   2   1
      Non-S&E nec   704   842   375   175   561   548   617   530   454   771

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: 2024
(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   784,355   421,753   765   242,148   21,131   74,197   24,361
    Science   620,747   349,553   625   168,463   18,801   62,319   20,986
      Computer and information sciences   25,666   7,768   0   11,709   4,741   348   1,100
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   9,396   5,971   0   2,713   2   664   46
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   9,386   5,971   0   2,713   2   664   36
        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   474,359   279,807   566   110,437   13,359   50,929   19,261
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   227,552   146,199   233   57,212   10,206   13,049   653
        Health sciences   246,732   133,608   333   53,150   3,153   37,880   18,608
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   75   0   0   75   0   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   6,099   3,141   0   2,032   0   848   78
      Physical sciences   47,955   30,644   0   15,952   437   882   40
        Astronomy and astrophysics   2,952   1,430   0   1,445   0   77   0
        Chemistry   23,717   13,414   0   9,517   437   336   13
        Materials science   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Physics   21,286   15,800   0   4,990   0   469   27
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Psychology   31,819   18,957   0   9,272   237   3,330   23
      Social sciences   16,190   1,252   59   9,211   25   5,284   359
        Anthropology   969   232   0   531   0   200   6
        Economics   2,733   181   0   2,388   25   139   0
        Political science and government   619   0   0   611   0   8   0
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   2,141   417   52   1,122   0   322   228
        Social sciences nec   9,728   422   7   4,559   0   4,615   125
      Sciences nec   9,263   2,013   0   7,137   0   34   79
    Engineering   114,080   61,737   0   43,737   1,998   5,928   680
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   2,042   2,024   0   18   0   0   0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   45,847   25,731   0   16,203   439   3,148   326
      Chemical engineering   58   0   0   58   0   0   0
      Civil engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   22,098   11,147   0   8,743   697   1,443   68
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   8,112   4,709   0   2,415   258   498   232
      Mechanical engineering   17,526   10,062   0   6,478   365   567   54
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   2,078   0   0   2,078   0   0   0
      Engineering nec   16,319   8,064   0   7,744   239   272   0
    Non-S&E   49,528   10,463   140   29,948   332   5,950   2,695
      Business management and business administration   9,654   510   0   7,893   0   681   570
      Communication and communications technologies   885   0   0   783   0   27   75
      Education   17,319   6,946   75   7,087   325   2,782   104
      Humanities   9,816   12   0   5,798   0   2,066   1,940
      Law   4,814   27   0   4,588   0   199   0
      Social work   5,661   2,968   65   2,420   7   195   6
      Visual and performing arts   675   0   0   675   0   0   0
      Non-S&E nec   704   0   0   704   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: 2024–15
(Dollars in thousands)
Source of funds 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Federal Agencies   421,753   409,551   413,102   402,443   339,172   318,511   284,888   259,832   253,475   259,736
  DOD   22,813   20,847   20,741   17,764   20,249   16,585   19,041   19,198   19,480   19,652
  DOE   7,321   8,055   6,972   6,138   6,403   5,270   5,132   5,326   6,160   6,073
  HHS   326,409   319,715   329,129   327,940   261,969   245,176   213,850   194,638   189,425   191,718
  NASA   15,126   11,762   10,452   8,154   8,621   6,618   5,825   5,430   6,064   5,930
  NSF   35,097   33,870   35,437   33,284   32,444   35,582   32,316   27,708   25,229   28,370
  USDA   346   453   310   389   560   440   346   174   167   308
  Other   14,641   14,849   10,061   8,774   8,926   8,840   8,378   7,358   6,950   7,685

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: 2024–18 [temporarily discontinued]
Year
2024   .   .   .   .
2023   .   .   .   .
2022   .   .   .   .
2021   .   .   .   .
2020   .   .   .   .
2019   4,451   820   3,631   .
2018   4,300   770   3,530   .

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
  All research space   0   0   124,000   0   0
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Computer and information sciences   0   0   88,571   0   0
    Engineering   0   0   0   0   0
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   35,429   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Psychology   0   0   0   0   0
    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

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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