U. Alabama, Birmingham

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 114 75.6 459 95 85.2 631 44 95.4 925
2023 116 75.1 459 94 86.4 679 45 95.2 911 85 86.2 602
2022 122 73.7 457 92 86.7 680 45 95.2 900
2021 113 75.1 447 107 84.8 691 44 95.3 908 74 87.6 583
2020 113 75.3 450 105 85.2 698 45 95.2 916
2019 118 74 447 118 83.4 697 45 95.2 914 82 86.4 589
2018 112 74.3 428 121 83 700 42 95.5 911
2017 127 70.6 425 109 84.4 684 41 95.6 898 77 86.9 575
2016 111 74.6 430 128 81.9 697 42 95.5 896
2015 104 76 426 131 81.4 693 41 95.6 898 75 87.1 570
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 156 148 134 139 148 146 164 125 157 179
  Science and engineering 149 138 120 126 132 140 152 116 142 167
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources . . . . 1 . . 1 1 1
      Agricultural sciences . . . . 1 . . . 1 .
      Natural resources and conservation . . . . . . . 1 . 1
    Biological and biomedical sciences 81 64 52 70 61 75 82 60 76 97
      Biochemistry and biophysics 4 6 2 2 5 4 5 2 8 2
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 12 7 6 11 8 10 15 5 17 8
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 4 4 4 4 2 1 7 3 4 8
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy 2 2 2 3 6 3 2 2 2 6
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 7 1 7 3 3 6 8 7 2 3
      Genetics and genomics 5 3 4 3 3 6 3 2 3 4
      Microbiology and immunology 17 15 9 13 10 12 15 14 10 19
      Molecular biology 5 1 4 2 4 2 3 1 6 6
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 8 6 6 11 7 11 7 10 13 17
      Pharmacology and toxicology . . . 1 . . 1 1 2 .
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 13 7 4 10 7 16 11 8 6 20
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other 4 12 4 7 6 4 5 5 3 4
    Computer and information sciences 5 3 2 . 3 2 5 7 5 2
      Computer science 3 2 2 . 2 2 4 4 1 .
      Computer and information sciences, other 2 1 . . 1 . 1 3 4 2
    Engineering 13 18 15 11 19 18 15 10 16 21
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 3 7 3 3 3 7 3 1 6 6
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 1 . . . . . 1 . . .
      Civil, environmental, and transportation engineering . 3 4 1 6 1 2 3 3 5
      Electrical and computer engineering 3 4 5 1 4 5 1 3 . 3
      Industrial engineering and operations research 1 . . . . . . . . .
      Materials and mining engineering 2 4 1 3 1 3 6 1 3 5
      Mechanical engineering 2 . . 1 1 . 1 1 2 .
      Engineering, other 1 . 2 2 4 2 1 1 2 2
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences . . . . . . 1 1 1 1
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences . . . . . . 1 1 1 1
    Health sciences 23 29 22 20 22 18 28 14 15 23
      Nursing science 7 8 6 6 8 6 11 5 3 5
      Public health 8 11 6 6 6 7 7 5 5 6
      Health sciences, other 8 10 10 8 8 5 10 4 7 12
    Mathematics and statistics 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 5 4 2
      Applied mathematics 3 4 2 2 2 2 1 4 3 2
      Mathematics 1 . . . . . . 1 . .
      Statistics . . . . . . . . 1 .
      Mathematics and statistics, other . . 1 1 . . . . . .
    Physical sciences 10 6 8 4 10 8 4 8 12 5
      Astronomy and astrophysics . . . . . 1 . . . .
      Chemistry 5 1 2 2 4 5 2 5 7 4
      Physics 5 5 6 2 6 2 2 3 5 1
    Psychology 12 12 13 12 12 13 14 7 10 10
      Clinical psychology 7 8 3 4 8 6 6 3 4 6
      Counseling and applied psychology . . 1 1 . . . . 1 1
      Research and experimental psychology 5 4 8 7 4 6 7 3 4 3
      Psychology, other . . 1 . . 1 1 1 1 .
    Social sciences 1 2 5 6 2 4 2 3 2 5
      Public policy analysis . . . . . . . . . .
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 1 2 4 6 2 4 2 3 2 5
      Social sciences, other . . 1 . . . . . . .
  Non-science and engineering 7 10 14 13 16 6 12 9 15 12
    Business . . . . . . . . . 1
      Business . . . . . . . . . 1
    Education 7 10 13 13 16 6 12 9 15 11
      Education leadership and administration . . 1 3 . . 3 . 11 4
      Education research 2 2 1 1 5 2 2 1 1 1
      Teacher education and teaching fields 3 4 7 7 10 4 7 8 3 6
      Education, other 2 4 4 2 1 . . . . .
    Other non-science and engineering . . 1 . . . . . . .
      Non-science and engineering, other . . 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   831   832   880   915   937   865   800   953   905   896
    Hispanic or Latino   44   44   25   25   44   45   32   43   36   44
    Not Hispanic or Latino   767   747   749   830   869   797   743   844   824   810
      American Indian or Alaska Native   2   3   2   3   5   2   1   0   0   1
      Asian   69   70   60   78   60   54   37   65   62   51
      Black or African American   166   152   159   184   194   163   105   138   137   127
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
      White   497   485   496   540   581   553   568   605   589   602
      More than one race   33   37   32   25   29   25   32   36   35   29
    Unknown ethnicity and race   20   41   106   60   24   23   25   66   45   42
  Temporary visa holders   937   1,004   870   510   424   372   394   337   269   273
  Science and engineering   1,550   1,622   1,495   1,123   1,101   1,023   892   916   769   791
    Science   1,306   1,389   1,287   973   953   873   715   748   642   679
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   619   633   608   528   556   522   333   324   276   311
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   419   503   429   189   86   91   79   65   31   32
      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   35   29   26   28   31   35   33   35   26   28
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   9   10   7   13   70   21   59   59   51   65
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   90   83   85   81   85   80   70   70   61   68
      Psychology   112   105   99   93   90   81   78   87   86   76
      Social sciences   22   26   33   41   35   43   63   108   79   66
    Engineering   244   233   208   150   148   150   177   168   127   112
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   41   44   40   39   32   33   26   31   25   26
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   40   33   28   22   9   19   19   15   15   21
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   41   60   39   26   34   35   26   18   18   15
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   29   27   28   12   12   15   26   22   20   7
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   19   17   19   13   20   24   29   30   26   19
      Other engineering   74   52   54   38   41   24   51   52   23   24
    Health   218   214   255   302   260   214   302   374   405   378
      Clinical medicine   195   193   236   279   244   214   222   297   299   273
      Other health   23   21   19   23   16   0   80   77   106   105

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   840   853   889   927   918   757   629   684   419   389
    Hispanic or Latino   51   37   13   13   12   15   14   23   11   9
    Not Hispanic or Latino   728   686   678   798   854   691   570   630   385   358
      American Indian or Alaska Native   1   1   2   4   5   4   4   0   0   0
      Asian   58   52   55   48   48   40   18   41   33   22
      Black or African American   197   196   170   203   197   151   116   145   85   88
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1
      White   441   417   440   528   584   485   411   422   257   237
      More than one race   31   20   11   15   20   11   21   22   10   10
    Unknown ethnicity and race   61   130   198   116   52   51   45   31   23   22
  Temporary visa holders   167   235   110   93   103   93   113   48   42   41
  Science and engineering   644   742   634   678   738   673   542   534   267   261
    Science   308   387   289   288   331   262   146   178   186   160
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   80   72   46   64   70   55   32   54   75   53
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   114   172   83   69   34   27   41   25   17   14
      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   4   2   4   1   2   1   1   2   1   4
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   46   77   93   84   132   92   0   4   8   0
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   7   4   4   4   1   4   5   4   1   5
      Psychology   1   0   1   2   1   3   3   1   1   0
      Social sciences   56   60   58   64   91   80   64   88   82   82
    Engineering   336   355   345   390   407   411   396   356   81   101
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   10   10   7   5   7   2   2   6   6   10
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   13   12   6   9   15   13   17   9   13   16
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   23   16   22   23   29   33   18   11   12   9
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   11   13   9   7   11   20   15   9   6   11
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   7   9   9   8   7   9   5   6   6   11
      Other engineering   272   295   292   338   338   334   339   315   38   44
    Health   363   346   365   342   283   177   200   198   194   169
      Clinical medicine   341   326   349   329   263   177   162   158   154   123
      Other health   22   20   16   13   20   0   38   40   40   46

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   276   207   235   245   241   240   297   261   232   265
  Science and engineering   251   196   217   232   227   223   261   211   178   215
    Science   231   179   197   207   203   206   243   196   166   198
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   168   131   150   163   145   158   146   117   90   113
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   13   8   6   4   16   7   10   10   6   7
      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   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   3
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   0   1   0   0   1   0   31   24   27   27
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   20   14   13   16   17   16   20   12   11   11
      Psychology   27   23   24   23   22   21   29   31   17   17
      Social sciences   2   2   3   1   2   4   7   2   4   4
    Engineering   20   17   20   25   24   17   18   15   12   17
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   9   12   13   17   12   11   13   12   8   10
      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   3   4   3   4   4   2   0   0   0   0
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   1   0   0   1   2   1   2   1   2   4
      Other engineering   7   1   3   3   6   3   3   2   2   3
    Health   25   11   18   13   14   17   36   50   54   50
      Clinical medicine   22   6   14   8   12   17   29   43   47   42
      Other health   3   5   4   5   2   0   7   7   7   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   1,768   1,836   1,750   1,425   1,361   1,237   1,194   1,290   1,174   1,169
  Fellowships   398   434   428   355   312   234   351   375   376   350
    Federal   135   78   104   83   96   89   144   140   124   117
    Institutional   244   335   299   257   204   144   194   217   243   227
    Nonfederal   19   21   25   15   12   1   13   18   9   6
  Research assistantships   326   200   228   245   235   200   250   256   158   285
    Federal   133   121   117   151   126   98   148   121   92   136
    Institutional   165   63   88   68   82   76   68   104   51   106
    Nonfederal   28   16   23   26   27   26   34   31   15   43
  Teaching assistantships   144   120   123   128   136   129   154   198   111   148
    Federal   0   0   0   0   1   1   1   0   0   12
    Institutional   144   120   122   128   134   126   152   191   109   135
    Nonfederal   0   0   1   0   1   2   1   7   2   1
  Other types of support   900   1,082   971   697   678   674   439   461   529   386
    Federal   8   8   14   11   18   52   4   0   16   0
    Institutional   72   91   79   87   109   141   11   0   95   58
    Nonfederal   0   1   1   1   5   20   10   0   23   0
    Personal resources   820   982   877   598   546   461   414   461   395   328

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   130   105   96   118   131   131   116   145   124   125
    Science   107   95   88   108   126   128   109   135   113   123
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   91   88   79   97   108   108   86   113   85   98
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   1   1   2   0   0   1   0
      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   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   0   0   0   0   5   5   5   7   7   7
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   11   4   6   6   7   8   10   7   7   4
      Psychology   3   1   2   4   5   5   8   8   4   6
      Social sciences   2   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   23   10   8   10   5   3   7   10   11   2
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   13   5   4   8   5   3   5   7   7   2
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   1   1   3   1   0   0   0   1   1   0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   0
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   7   3   1   1   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   2   1   0
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Health   166   131   138   146   141   145   118   125   123   127
      Clinical medicine   152   113   118   129   127   126   106   111   108   109
      Other health   14   18   20   17   14   19   12   14   15   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

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   160   147   127   164   182   168   159   167   162   162
  Science and engineering   64   58   52   78   95   86   79   88   77   79
    Science   60   56   51   72   91   85   76   82   73   79
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   51   50   47   67   79   75   62   69   53   59
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   1   1   1   0   0   0   0
      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   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   0   0   0   0   5   5   4   6   6   5
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   7   4   3   1   1   1   5   4   4   3
      Psychology   1   1   1   3   5   3   5   3   1   4
      Social sciences   1   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   4   2   1   6   4   1   3   6   4   0
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   3   2   1   6   4   1   3   5   4   0
      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   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   0
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Health   96   89   75   86   87   82   80   79   85   83
      Clinical medicine   86   78   65   77   76   72   72   66   73   69
      Other health   10   11   10   9   11   10   8   13   12   14

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   865,868   780,479   713,480   644,330   618,226   607,863   588,207   561,851   537,825   516,229
    Science   822,501   740,753   671,131   589,607   555,515   547,806   526,958   505,921   488,133   472,364
      Computer and information sciences   1,238   1,013   898   1,356   1,502   827   919   575   2,466   940
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   66   436   701   870   1,199   1,496   2,022   8,362
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   66   436   701   870   1,199   1,496   2,022   0
        Geological and earth sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   500
        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   7,862
      Life sciences   804,993   721,450   653,373   571,525   542,308   533,536   511,345   491,477   472,114   455,478
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   204,343   198,509   167,234   132,380   132,963   137,196   122,978   121,086   120,456   126,233
        Health sciences   600,650   522,941   486,139   439,145   409,345   396,340   388,367   370,391   351,658   321,859
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   7,386
      Mathematics and statistics   328   169   263   383   916   876   320   324   1,157   137
      Physical sciences   7,068   5,624   6,282   9,885   4,678   5,961   7,211   5,667   4,898   3,003
        Astronomy and astrophysics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Chemistry   3,201   2,164   1,560   2,415   1,018   2,177   2,239   1,781   1,060   781
        Materials science   49   156   1,570   5,131   1,169   1,365   2,297   1,476   1,553   0
        Physics   3,818   3,304   3,152   2,339   2,491   2,419   2,675   2,410   2,285   2,222
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Psychology   8,443   11,715   9,755   5,695   5,164   4,933   5,355   5,558   5,235   4,161
      Social sciences   431   782   494   317   246   803   609   824   241   283
        Anthropology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Economics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Political science and government   0   0   0   0   0   0   535   557   1   0
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   219   517   311   170   16   2   10   57   101   151
        Social sciences nec   212   265   183   147   230   801   64   210   139   132
      Sciences nec   0   0   0   10   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   30,203   28,505   30,637   46,844   53,030   47,555   48,102   47,730   43,359   37,222
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   6,053   6,089   999   6,538   8,271   8,995   7,816   7,419   7,649   8,257
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   12,678   10,224   7,608   5,957   6,470   6,400   7,259   5,551   2,949   2,250
      Chemical engineering   623   103   349   942   3,507   4,368   6,122   8,933   10,340   3,900
      Civil engineering   2,284   2,010   1,765   609   693   1,033   985   1,320   1,201   1,095
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   2,466   1,917   3,155   6,491   5,960   3,121   1,737   2,776   1,528   1,008
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   5,468   6,943   7,713   11,323   7,356   5,308   2,523   3,130   3,703   4,243
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   0   0   7,790   14,693   18,086   15,526   19,062   15,753   13,241   15,074
      Engineering nec   631   1,219   1,258   291   2,687   2,804   2,598   2,848   2,748   1,395
    Non-S&E   13,164   11,221   11,712   7,879   9,681   12,502   13,147   8,200   6,333   6,643
      Business management and business administration   576   0   25   209   94   98   221   178   156   129
      Communication and communications technologies   20   1   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   56
      Education   8,085   8,745   6,627   1,364   1,767   3,918   4,380   1,558   723   700
      Humanities   0   0   95   0   1   10   0   0   0   0
      Law   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Social work   220   0   446   111   268   200   38   12   44   27
      Visual and performing arts   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   14   0
      Non-S&E nec   4,262   2,475   4,517   6,195   7,551   8,276   8,508   6,452   5,396   5,731

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   865,868   498,148   18,482   232,305   71,057   41,550   4,326
    Science   822,501   477,809   13,014   218,349   69,273   39,730   4,326
      Computer and information sciences   1,238   1,112   0   34   88   4   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        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   804,993   462,585   12,696   216,663   69,052   39,671   4,326
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   204,343   116,867   2,815   61,606   10,760   7,969   4,326
        Health sciences   600,650   345,718   9,881   155,057   58,292   31,702   0
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mathematics and statistics   328   283   0   45   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   7,068   5,852   227   851   133   5   0
        Astronomy and astrophysics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Chemistry   3,201   2,347   69   652   133   0   0
        Materials science   49   5   0   44   0   0   0
        Physics   3,818   3,500   158   155   0   5   0
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Psychology   8,443   7,618   87   725   0   13   0
      Social sciences   431   359   4   31   0   37   0
        Anthropology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Economics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Political science and government   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   219   152   0   30   0   37   0
        Social sciences nec   212   207   4   1   0   0   0
      Sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   30,203   17,486   479   9,849   1,784   605   0
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   6,053   4,631   0   44   1,265   113   0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   12,678   8,478   155   3,681   0   364   0
      Chemical engineering   623   623   0   0   0   0   0
      Civil engineering   2,284   426   257   1,601   0   0   0
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   2,466   957   0   1,381   0   128   0
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   5,468   2,371   67   2,511   519   0   0
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Engineering nec   631   0   0   631   0   0   0
    Non-S&E   13,164   2,853   4,989   4,107   0   1,215   0
      Business management and business administration   576   439   0   134   0   3   0
      Communication and communications technologies   20   0   0   5   0   15   0
      Education   8,085   1,047   3,383   3,600   0   55   0
      Humanities   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Law   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Social work   220   75   0   117   0   28   0
      Visual and performing arts   1   0   0   1   0   0   0
      Non-S&E nec   4,262   1,292   1,606   250   0   1,114   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   498,148   451,880   421,223   423,290   400,110   398,403   373,360   358,916   348,632   328,531
  DOD   19,613   13,923   24,013   37,913   37,281   29,147   26,029   26,393   20,177   21,996
  DOE   3,559   1,949   2,484   3,487   5,945   5,778   6,717   8,239   7,256   7,027
  HHS   450,530   417,750   380,585   360,322   332,215   337,055   313,677   302,624   299,666   275,414
  NASA   4,346   4,278   2,244   9,847   11,153   11,500   12,118   9,634   10,812   11,159
  NSF   8,687   7,969   6,387   6,607   6,680   7,462   7,137   6,066   5,665   6,978
  USDA   272   166   104   260   74   89   77   8   44   77
  Other   11,141   5,845   5,406   4,854   6,762   7,372   7,605   5,952   5,012   5,880

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   5,373   858   4,515   .
2018   5,085   805   4,280   .

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   916   977   871   915   936
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   249   258   225   254   280
    Computer and information sciences   3   4   6   4   4
    Engineering   79   80   67   81   58
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   21   21   21   21   21
    Health sciences   498   551   497   490   514
    Mathematics and statistics   2   2   3   2   3
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   39   35   30   32   29
    Psychology   18   16   14   14   13
    Social sciences   4   4   6   4   5
    Other   3   3   3   12   8

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   84,000   30,000   35,000   0   14,257
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   42,000   0   11,667   0   0
    Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   0   30,000   0   0   0
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   14,007
    Health sciences   0   0   0   0   250
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   23,333   0   0
    Psychology   42,000   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   1,371   385   8,204   0   12,419
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   731   0   3,034   0   2,695
    Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   0   0   500   0   1,700
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   2,763
    Health sciences   640   385   4,669   0   1,811
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   0   0   3,450
    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

Open printer friendly view

Back to Top of page.