Northwestern 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 32 93.3 459 34 94.8 631 28 97.1 925
2023 33 93.1 459 38 94.6 679 29 97 911 19 97 602
2022 31 93.5 457 39 94.5 680 29 96.9 900
2021 31 93.3 447 38 94.7 691 30 96.8 908 18 97.1 583
2020 33 92.9 450 36 95 698 29 97 916
2019 28 94 447 36 95 697 29 97 914 53 91.2 589
2018 32 92.8 428 48 93.3 700 28 97.1 911
2017 31 93 425 44 93.8 684 29 96.9 898 59 90 575
2016 33 92.6 430 46 93.6 697 29 96.9 896
2015 36 91.8 426 46 93.6 693 29 96.9 898 58 90.1 570
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 491 473 491 428 433 484 432 441 454 424
  Science and engineering 408 378 394 356 361 388 346 355 355 332
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources . 1 . . . . . . 2 1
      Agricultural sciences . . . . . . . . . 1
      Natural resources and conservation . 1 . . . . . . 2 .
    Biological and biomedical sciences 63 70 83 59 72 74 69 62 79 64
      Biochemistry and biophysics 6 1 8 2 3 8 2 8 9 5
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 33 23 25 20 28 15 16 17 18 9
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 6 . 7 2 6 6 4 1 1 2
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 7
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 .
      Genetics and genomics . 1 1 2 . . 2 2 . 2
      Microbiology and immunology 4 1 12 2 3 3 11 5 9 10
      Molecular biology 2 6 4 5 3 6 2 5 4 8
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 6 28 19 18 24 19 14 18 24 19
      Pharmacology and toxicology 1 . 1 . . . . . . .
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 1 6 2 1 1 1 6 . 4 2
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other 1 1 . 4 1 12 8 1 8 .
    Computer and information sciences 23 19 14 21 14 14 9 15 8 6
      Computer science 19 18 14 17 13 12 6 14 8 5
      Computer and information sciences, other 4 1 . 4 1 2 3 1 . 1
    Engineering 136 118 114 103 123 120 102 127 103 122
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 18 18 22 13 16 12 13 18 14 17
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 11 20 14 6 15 19 15 17 10 15
      Civil, environmental, and transportation engineering 17 9 9 7 7 17 7 7 11 13
      Electrical and computer engineering 19 14 11 11 21 15 5 19 16 14
      Industrial engineering and operations research 10 4 7 9 8 8 9 9 5 9
      Materials and mining engineering 37 37 25 34 33 29 34 37 28 31
      Mechanical engineering 16 14 16 19 20 14 15 13 15 20
      Engineering, other 8 2 10 4 3 6 4 7 4 3
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 6 4 6 5 3 5 4 2 5 4
      Geological sciences 2 4 6 5 3 5 3 2 4 4
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences 4 . . . . . 1 . 1 .
    Health sciences 14 9 8 8 7 2 4 5 3 2
      Pharmaceutical sciences 1 . . . . . . . . .
      Public health 1 2 . 1 2 . . 2 1 .
      Health sciences, other 12 7 8 7 5 2 4 3 2 2
    Mathematics and statistics 14 21 16 22 12 19 19 16 15 11
      Applied mathematics 5 5 1 6 3 5 8 1 2 4
      Mathematics 2 . . . 1 . 1 4 2 3
      Statistics 2 4 4 4 2 5 2 3 . 3
      Mathematics and statistics, other 5 12 11 12 6 9 8 8 11 1
    Physical sciences 63 56 77 61 53 70 58 56 56 49
      Astronomy and astrophysics 4 8 5 5 7 1 3 5 2 2
      Chemistry 45 41 54 42 38 44 33 33 41 38
      Physics 14 7 18 14 8 25 22 18 13 9
    Psychology 19 20 21 19 24 22 24 22 25 19
      Clinical psychology 6 7 9 9 9 11 9 7 10 2
      Counseling and applied psychology . 1 . 1 2 1 . 2 2 .
      Research and experimental psychology 10 6 3 7 11 7 6 9 8 11
      Psychology, other 3 6 9 2 2 3 9 4 5 6
    Social sciences 70 60 55 58 53 62 57 50 59 54
      Anthropology 8 7 3 6 4 7 3 6 5 4
      Economics 27 22 20 20 20 25 21 14 24 19
      Political science and government 14 12 10 11 15 9 10 11 9 15
      Public policy analysis 1 . 1 . . . . 2 1 .
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 9 13 13 9 6 11 18 13 5 9
      Social sciences, other 11 6 8 12 8 10 5 4 15 7
  Non-science and engineering 83 95 97 72 72 96 86 86 99 92
    Business 15 16 22 14 15 23 17 12 17 26
      Business 15 16 22 14 15 23 17 12 17 26
    Education 4 9 15 5 5 6 8 6 6 10
      Education leadership and administration . 1 2 . . . . . . .
      Education research 4 5 12 3 5 5 6 . 2 3
      Teacher education and teaching fields . 2 1 2 . 1 1 2 2 3
      Education, other . 1 . . . . 1 4 2 4
    Humanities and arts 49 64 53 41 46 65 56 56 62 38
      Letters 9 6 12 9 16 12 13 9 10 5
      Foreign languages and literature 2 5 4 4 5 4 8 7 4 5
      History 11 14 9 9 5 16 13 8 15 9
      Philosophy and religious studies 4 7 8 5 5 11 3 9 9 9
      Music and performing arts 7 17 11 5 5 10 13 10 12 4
      Humanities and arts, other 16 15 9 9 10 12 6 13 12 6
    Other non-science and engineering 15 6 7 12 6 2 5 12 14 18
      Communication 15 5 6 9 6 2 5 10 14 17
      Public administration and social services . . . 2 . . . . . .
      Non-science and engineering, other . 1 1 1 . . . 2 . 1

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   2,546   2,427   2,427   2,390   2,288   2,197   1,572   1,719   1,567   1,677
    Hispanic or Latino   341   330   314   313   272   237   148   169   150   158
    Not Hispanic or Latino   2,128   2,014   2,024   1,985   1,921   1,859   1,332   1,463   1,334   1,422
      American Indian or Alaska Native   3   1   4   6   6   6   4   3   2   3
      Asian   447   411   409   354   324   304   229   254   76   204
      Black or African American   171   178   171   163   166   165   110   110   109   114
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   1   1   1   1   2   2   1   1   1   1
      White   1,370   1,300   1,321   1,357   1,307   1,252   904   1,013   1,070   1,030
      More than one race   136   123   118   104   116   130   84   82   76   70
    Unknown ethnicity and race   77   83   89   92   95   101   92   87   83   97
  Temporary visa holders   1,770   1,702   1,481   1,411   1,224   1,340   1,248   1,236   1,395   1,181
  Science and engineering   4,171   3,976   3,797   3,687   3,342   3,370   2,718   2,827   2,858   2,759
    Science   2,962   2,761   2,636   2,538   2,288   2,228   1,642   1,658   1,805   1,793
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   801   732   657   643   554   567   494   538   392   371
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   65   51
      Computer and information sciences   425   393   296   263   194   206   168   124   124   141
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   25   24   23   24   25   29   32   29   27   22
      Mathematics and statistics   151   127   106   82   83   80   90   90   152   140
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   74   76   77   73   78   31   32   29   27   25
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   427   403   422   382   396   403   308   312   358   385
      Psychology   578   561   600   609   560   517   115   118   122   124
      Social sciences   481   445   455   462   398   395   403   418   416   417
    Engineering   1,209   1,215   1,161   1,149   1,054   1,142   1,076   1,169   1,053   966
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   206   177   166   160   152   147   137   164   147   120
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   116   119   119   116   109   98   101   119   120   117
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   107   115   119   127   22   115   107   121   110   107
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   215   221   184   167   168   203   156   184   104   127
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   84   88   83   84   65   64   63   58   67   58
      Mechanical engineering   146   145   139   140   229   173   161   163   160   136
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   209   220   227   247   209   236   232   234   248   237
      Other engineering   126   130   124   108   100   106   119   126   97   64
    Health   145   153   111   114   170   167   102   128   104   99
      Clinical medicine   101   102   61   63   93   95   36   71   55   46
      Other health   44   51   50   51   77   72   66   57   49   53

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   530   576   482   521   502   358   107   69   136   147
    Hispanic or Latino   85   86   60   58   60   36   9   5   12   11
    Not Hispanic or Latino   434   473   404   446   424   313   95   61   121   133
      American Indian or Alaska Native   0   0   0   1   1   0   0   0   1   0
      Asian   65   76   65   67   54   40   27   20   6   30
      Black or African American   58   47   42   60   66   48   7   3   4   5
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   0   1   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   0
      White   292   320   272   295   287   217   60   36   108   98
      More than one race   19   29   24   23   15   8   1   2   2   0
    Unknown ethnicity and race   11   17   18   17   18   9   3   3   3   3
  Temporary visa holders   75   78   90   26   87   71   106   108   109   88
  Science and engineering   546   573   488   463   507   368   160   126   156   148
    Science   453   488   385   384   369   254   21   25   63   55
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   3   7   0   3   2   3   6   5   3   2
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
      Computer and information sciences   41   42   33   11   18   16   13   19   42   48
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
      Mathematics and statistics   2   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   7   2
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   0   0   1   1   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   6   12   1   5   2   0   0   1   3   0
      Psychology   401   424   346   363   341   234   1   0   0   1
      Social sciences   0   3   3   1   5   1   1   0   6   2
    Engineering   93   85   103   79   138   114   139   101   93   93
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   2   2   2   4   2   3   2   1   2   0
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   1   1   1   4   2   3   4   3   1   0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   1   4   5   6   11   8   15   18   14   13
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   28   25   19   5   27   14   37   52   0   0
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   0   1   0   0   1   0   0   63   60
      Mechanical engineering   7   6   12   5   19   7   2   12   7   10
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   13   12   30   5   13   14   16   8   6   10
      Other engineering   40   35   33   50   64   64   63   7   0   0
    Health   59   81   84   84   82   61   53   51   89   87
      Clinical medicine   46   66   74   67   64   45   42   40   61   66
      Other health   13   15   10   17   18   16   11   11   28   21

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   821   683   650   650   716   668   585   643   613   635
  Science and engineering   818   680   649   649   708   658   570   629   602   624
    Science   492   392   408   400   417   404   347   378   404   404
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   239   204   213   207   191   192   163   195   132   105
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   3
      Computer and information sciences   36   32   25   25   26   19   17   13   15   15
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   7   8   5   4   7   8   8   4   7   8
      Mathematics and statistics   2   1   2   4   2   3   3   5   17   22
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   20   21   21   12   15   6   7   4   4   4
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   152   110   125   132   158   145   121   121   129   158
      Psychology   6   8   6   9   7   15   17   21   25   24
      Social sciences   30   8   11   7   11   16   11   15   13   20
    Engineering   326   288   241   249   291   254   223   251   198   220
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   60   44   37   43   53   41   30   34   33   23
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   37   41   30   28   33   34   31   29   31   28
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   35   26   16   18   0   14   9   11   8   11
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   32   34   22   18   20   16   21   15   9   18
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   9   8   12   14   7   16   6   7   7   9
      Mechanical engineering   40   34   27   23   60   42   37   33   23   34
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   74   70   70   75   93   72   69   82   78   89
      Other engineering   39   31   27   30   25   19   20   40   9   8
    Health   3   3   1   1   8   10   15   14   11   11
      Clinical medicine   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   1   0
      Other health   3   3   1   1   8   10   15   13   10   11

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   4,316   4,129   3,908   3,801   3,512   3,537   2,820   2,955   2,962   2,858
  Fellowships   1,583   1,595   1,282   992   560   707   692   1,013   1,044   1,043
    Federal   267   230   201   73   43   86   102   273   238   238
    Institutional   1,227   1,285   1,041   784   405   502   497   636   703   681
    Nonfederal   89   80   40   135   112   119   93   104   103   124
  Research assistantships   910   860   897   1,059   926   942   893   692   662   630
    Federal   554   453   449   577   673   582   483   370   375   388
    Institutional   294   350   394   420   150   281   315   248   233   179
    Nonfederal   62   57   54   62   103   79   95   74   54   63
  Teaching assistantships   379   341   441   382   365   368   358   440   456   441
    Federal   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Institutional   379   341   438   382   365   368   358   440   456   441
    Nonfederal   0   0   3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
  Other types of support   1,444   1,333   1,288   1,368   1,661   1,520   877   810   800   744
    Federal   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   9
    Institutional   0   0   53   100   569   330   237   422   334   74
    Nonfederal   0   0   2   2   0   0   0   0   0   2
    Personal resources   1,444   1,333   1,233   1,266   1,092   1,190   640   388   466   659

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   749   685   694   660   647   665   633   678   599   566
    Science   592   549   564   488   482   509   462   508   451   426
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   190   196   208   183   187   196   185   210   194   179
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   2
      Computer and information sciences   8   10   9   13   7   9   1   1   0   0
      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   1   0   2   4   1   2
      Mathematics and statistics   30   21   24   21   22   24   9   7   5   2
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   79   83   79   44   21   56   51   63   44   42
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   7   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   225   188   193   179   185   180   175   184   175   167
      Psychology   28   20   17   16   21   15   13   15   11   15
      Social sciences   28   27   32   32   31   29   26   24   19   17
    Engineering   157   136   130   172   165   156   171   170   148   140
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   23   25   19   62   49   18   22   29   25   30
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   18   24   35   40   38   27   28   25   22   17
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   25   20   16   12   11   16   13   13   13   16
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   11   6   8   8   11   13   20   18   16   19
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   3   1   1   3   6   7   4   2   4   5
      Mechanical engineering   30   21   12   9   7   8   12   17   16   12
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   41   33   31   29   37   45   48   51   52   41
      Other engineering   6   6   8   9   6   22   24   15   0   0
    Health   341   292   267   269   292   279   287   311   214   180
      Clinical medicine   294   247   230   225   250   230   246   271   186   152
      Other health   47   45   37   44   42   49   41   40   28   28

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   559   517   580   588   539   532   533   591   534   478
  Science and engineering   392   364   419   419   378   374   364   393   401   376
    Science   296   277   327   303   276   291   276   302   305   279
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   124   135   146   142   141   141   135   144   139   121
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   2
      Computer and information sciences   2   4   2   5   2   2   1   1   0   0
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   1   0   1   0   0   0   1   0   1   0
      Mathematics and statistics   5   5   5   7   4   10   6   5   3   2
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   39   27   44   22   8   20   17   15   20   32
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   3   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   101   89   106   100   92   99   98   116   123   104
      Psychology   15   11   13   13   13   7   8   10   8   9
      Social sciences   9   6   10   14   13   12   10   11   9   9
    Engineering   96   87   92   116   102   83   88   91   96   97
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   15   17   12   45   33   11   14   20   20   19
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   10   16   28   25   24   17   14   15   11   14
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   14   11   9   6   3   2   5   4   7   8
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   7   5   5   5   6   9   8   11   13   17
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   0   1   1   2   3   2   1   1   2
      Mechanical engineering   19   14   10   5   7   2   6   11   13   8
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   25   22   21   22   23   27   29   26   31   29
      Other engineering   5   2   6   7   4   12   10   3   0   0
    Health   167   153   161   169   161   158   169   198   133   102
      Clinical medicine   150   135   143   151   144   138   146   178   115   84
      Other health   17   18   18   18   17   20   23   20   18   18

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   1,257,859   1,114,269   1,000,695   913,178   874,671   857,069   805,672   751,809   713,491   656,167
    Science   1,093,327   981,193   880,452   807,366   770,529   747,194   694,796   639,540   600,524   549,644
      Computer and information sciences   14,917   13,831   10,117   8,957   8,441   3,035   2,512   2,530   2,197   40
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   2,433   1,795   1,443   1,342   1,351   1,547   1,627   1,821   1,655   1,924
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   2,433   1,795   1,443   1,342   1,351   1,547   1,627   1,821   1,655   1,924
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Life sciences   902,321   816,739   721,230   659,195   619,270   604,875   555,160   515,893   481,869   451,943
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   221,411   205,479   189,086   166,594   153,629   141,523   128,409   130,422   122,935   100,231
        Health sciences   670,382   596,679   514,642   474,272   451,059   446,421   406,467   370,779   346,275   327,972
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   2,242   2,868   1,823   1,234   0
        Life sciences nec   10,528   14,581   17,502   18,329   14,582   14,689   17,416   12,869   11,425   23,740
      Mathematics and statistics   3,104   2,311   2,215   1,490   2,275   2,461   2,869   2,461   2,293   2,228
      Physical sciences   110,150   97,816   90,194   83,618   78,168   82,072   82,409   71,743   67,071   43,551
        Astronomy and astrophysics   8,304   7,498   6,681   6,676   6,604   5,274   4,566   3,438   2,564   0
        Chemistry   58,024   42,247   40,697   36,484   35,130   40,651   39,150   38,954   39,855   34,334
        Materials science   19,099   19,933   18,052   16,535   16,418   13,853   18,211   15,094   12,620   0
        Physics   21,229   22,886   19,886   19,296   15,418   17,918   18,337   12,441   10,125   7,521
        Physical sciences nec   3,494   5,252   4,878   4,627   4,598   4,376   2,145   1,816   1,907   1,696
      Psychology   4,493   3,316   4,231   3,352   3,706   4,157   3,923   4,177   4,667   3,602
      Social sciences   24,276   23,363   24,515   21,988   18,762   16,211   15,007   16,447   16,924   19,787
        Anthropology   2,139   1,577   951   553   1,106   963   822   842   820   0
        Economics   8,749   8,318   8,819   6,455   3,721   1,556   1,819   1,548   2,015   1,797
        Political science and government   835   834   641   584   758   801   918   847   502   14,427
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   395   493   275   249   443   523   607   688   551   1,842
        Social sciences nec   12,158   12,141   13,829   14,147   12,734   12,368   10,841   12,522   13,036   1,721
      Sciences nec   31,633   22,022   26,507   27,424   38,556   32,836   31,289   24,468   23,848   26,569
    Engineering   120,781   93,785   88,008   80,735   77,150   80,413   81,662   84,520   84,243   77,676
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   22,788   20,128   17,376   14,826   14,678   11,844   15,052   14,133   12,628   12,994
      Chemical engineering   19,986   12,688   13,889   15,296   14,434   15,264   10,304   9,541   7,077   8,924
      Civil engineering   9,461   7,457   6,071   4,883   5,619   4,211   5,536   5,034   5,247   4,459
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   10,280   8,452   8,475   8,204   7,501   12,630   12,339   11,654   12,742   7,213
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   3,200   3,127   4,615   3,995   3,948   3,530   3,380   3,347   2,983   0
      Mechanical engineering   13,930   8,038   7,448   6,274   6,525   6,845   7,181   9,458   10,923   9,463
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   23,207   18,076   16,229   16,709   15,415   16,820   17,293   21,207   17,752   18,397
      Engineering nec   17,929   15,819   13,905   10,548   9,030   9,269   10,577   10,146   14,891   16,226
    Non-S&E   43,751   39,291   32,235   25,077   26,992   29,462   29,214   27,749   28,724   28,847
      Business management and business administration   16,102   15,511   15,461   10,181   11,847   11,085   8,845   5,791   6,115   8,415
      Communication and communications technologies   4,174   3,353   3,090   3,019   3,298   3,575   4,673   5,574   7,195   6,677
      Education   14,675   12,464   8,171   7,353   6,237   8,202   9,087   10,078   9,650   7,363
      Humanities   4,344   4,761   3,470   2,970   3,986   4,475   4,172   3,673   3,166   1,776
      Law   2,507   1,509   1,216   1,108   993   1,260   1,300   1,317   1,492   1,486
      Social work   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Visual and performing arts   1,876   1,693   827   446   631   865   1,135   1,098   1,104   969
      Non-S&E nec   73   0   0   0   0   0   2   218   2   2,161

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   1,257,859   735,735   5,838   361,296   70,595   68,565   15,830
    Science   1,093,327   660,197   5,838   292,039   64,892   57,449   12,912
      Computer and information sciences   14,917   7,613   0   3,963   151   330   2,860
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   2,433   1,535   0   740   0   127   31
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   2,433   1,535   0   740   0   127   31
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Life sciences   902,321   560,478   2,556   222,575   59,863   49,090   7,759
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   221,411   146,335   0   51,719   2,985   19,097   1,275
        Health sciences   670,382   411,842   2,556   165,156   56,346   29,853   4,629
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   10,528   2,301   0   5,700   532   140   1,855
      Mathematics and statistics   3,104   1,678   0   1,150   0   276   0
      Physical sciences   110,150   57,078   0   43,073   4,418   4,804   777
        Astronomy and astrophysics   8,304   2,530   0   4,881   0   888   5
        Chemistry   58,024   28,350   0   22,853   4,148   2,638   35
        Materials science   19,099   15,174   0   3,373   75   477   0
        Physics   21,229   10,487   0   9,204   0   801   737
        Physical sciences nec   3,494   537   0   2,762   195   0   0
      Psychology   4,493   2,514   0   1,932   0   18   29
      Social sciences   24,276   11,191   0   9,434   0   2,531   1,120
        Anthropology   2,139   660   0   921   0   440   118
        Economics   8,749   4,777   0   3,301   0   0   671
        Political science and government   835   200   0   558   0   42   35
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   395   0   0   388   0   7   0
        Social sciences nec   12,158   5,554   0   4,266   0   2,042   296
      Sciences nec   31,633   18,110   3,282   9,172   460   273   336
    Engineering   120,781   71,574   0   38,514   5,421   4,422   850
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   22,788   15,247   0   6,532   99   910   0
      Chemical engineering   19,986   12,772   0   4,631   1,596   760   227
      Civil engineering   9,461   6,710   0   1,998   436   210   107
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   10,280   7,249   0   2,336   628   0   67
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   3,200   1,857   0   907   436   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   13,930   9,685   0   3,346   823   2   74
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   23,207   14,350   0   6,296   901   1,358   302
      Engineering nec   17,929   3,704   0   12,468   502   1,182   73
    Non-S&E   43,751   3,964   0   30,743   282   6,694   2,068
      Business management and business administration   16,102   545   0   14,352   107   107   991
      Communication and communications technologies   4,174   536   0   2,179   0   1,041   418
      Education   14,675   2,539   0   6,696   0   4,886   554
      Humanities   4,344   257   0   3,986   0   39   62
      Law   2,507   17   0   2,092   175   223   0
      Social work   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Visual and performing arts   1,876   0   0   1,435   0   398   43
      Non-S&E nec   73   70   0   3   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   735,735   678,062   618,771   572,975   531,654   502,300   469,525   446,609   432,413   393,186
  DOD   64,812   51,407   50,435   45,744   43,595   43,448   42,721   37,140   38,566   35,124
  DOE   32,757   33,607   30,065   28,064   22,672   21,580   20,189   21,968   21,294   21,359
  HHS   560,300   521,988   467,367   432,853   402,269   374,302   344,380   324,778   305,371   280,136
  NASA   4,555   4,253   3,872   3,213   3,457   3,961   5,555   3,625   3,440   1,818
  NSF   61,693   56,367   57,278   53,359   49,659   48,728   42,916   45,192   48,927   45,979
  USDA   349   318   411   307   448   137   233   35   37   8
  Other   11,269   10,122   9,343   9,435   9,554   10,144   13,531   13,871   14,778   8,762

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   10,096   1,337   8,759   .
2018   9,603   1,293   8,310   .

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   2,479   2,471   1,173   1,085   1,003
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   403   397   210   265   249
    Computer and information sciences   19   18   6   0   0
    Engineering   385   366   166   187   166
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   24   24   8   7   9
    Health sciences   877   892   448   445   399
    Mathematics and statistics   22   22   4   4   4
    Natural resources and conservation   9   7   3   4   1
    Physical sciences   277   271   134   137   140
    Psychology   43   43   12   13   14
    Social sciences   153   168   19   11   12
    Other   268   263   163   12   10

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   0   18,726   335,981
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   0   0   0   0   98,542
    Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   0   0   0   18,726   70,333
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   0   0   0   0   101,944
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   0   0   27,968
    Psychology   0   0   0   0   0
    Social sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Other   0   0   0   0   37,194

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   189,209   138,290   75,693   59,124   86,532
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   119,105   21,671   16,135   2,347   7,459
    Computer and information sciences   1,336   11,923   0   13,200   0
    Engineering   21,249   18,913   12,970   9,003   19,216
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   13,834   26,357   28,675   13,727   8,583
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   10,893   29,440   3,124   11,303   8,931
    Psychology   250   0   0   0   281
    Social sciences   21,916   1,098   1,821   387   0
    Other   627   28,888   12,969   9,157   42,061

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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