Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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 35 92.6 459 35 94.7 631 56 94.1 925
2023 32 93.3 459 35 95 679 57 93.9 911 37 94.1 602
2022 35 92.6 457 36 94.9 680 53 94.3 900
2021 26 94.4 447 37 94.8 691 54 94.2 908 39 93.5 583
2020 28 94 450 38 94.7 698 49 94.8 916
2019 39 91.6 447 40 94.4 697 48 94.9 914 39 93.6 589
2018 36 91.9 428 41 94.3 700 47 95 911
2017 33 92.5 425 34 95.2 684 46 95 898 39 93.4 575
2016 30 93.3 430 34 95.3 697 43 95.4 896
2015 32 92.8 426 35 95.1 693 44 95.2 898 41 93 570
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 470 502 459 465 495 405 426 438 472 451
  Science and engineering 397 427 388 399 431 344 362 374 400 388
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources 42 40 31 39 51 39 33 37 38 38
      Agricultural sciences 33 31 24 28 39 33 25 24 24 23
      Natural resources and conservation 9 9 7 11 12 6 8 13 14 15
    Biological and biomedical sciences 56 53 43 48 45 43 40 48 51 50
      Biochemistry and biophysics 4 3 5 5 4 1 4 2 4 3
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 10 11 4 7 8 7 5 7 6 4
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 5 4 2 5 4 2 4 6 11 4
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy . 1 . . . 1 . . . 1
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 6 5 4 5 3 5 1 2 1 14
      Genetics and genomics . 1 1 1 . . . 2 2 .
      Microbiology and immunology 11 13 6 5 6 8 9 6 8 11
      Molecular biology 1 . 1 2 1 3 3 2 2 1
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 7 3 5 7 3 3 1 2 1 1
      Pharmacology and toxicology . 2 . . . . . . . .
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 3 4 2 1 . 2 2 1 1 1
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other 9 6 13 10 16 11 11 18 15 10
    Computer and information sciences 21 23 20 31 25 15 24 28 22 25
      Computer science 18 15 17 27 23 14 20 26 19 25
      Computer and information sciences, other 3 8 3 4 2 1 4 2 3 .
    Engineering 183 208 178 166 195 144 165 154 171 168
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 21 25 13 15 16 7 11 9 12 12
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 11 21 7 13 13 14 15 12 13 12
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 11 11 14 11 11 11 3 4 8 8
      Civil, environmental, and transportation engineering 21 41 30 13 28 17 24 34 30 30
      Electrical and computer engineering 44 45 51 51 40 34 49 46 39 44
      Industrial engineering and operations research 20 11 10 8 12 9 8 7 13 9
      Materials and mining engineering 13 10 9 10 13 12 4 5 5 8
      Mechanical engineering 31 27 25 32 37 21 36 22 31 22
      Engineering, other 11 17 19 13 25 19 15 15 20 23
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 12 9 8 11 9 6 8 13 7 8
      Geological sciences 10 6 6 9 7 3 7 13 5 5
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences 2 3 2 2 2 3 1 . 2 3
    Health sciences 5 5 6 6 4 6 4 1 5 1
      Nursing science . . . . . . . . . .
      Public health . . 1 1 2 2 3 1 4 1
      Health sciences, other 5 5 5 5 2 4 1 . 1 .
    Mathematics and statistics 13 13 13 16 15 11 13 12 20 17
      Applied mathematics 1 2 1 2 3 . 3 4 6 3
      Mathematics . . . 2 1 1 1 2 . 1
      Statistics 6 5 5 7 5 4 4 4 6 12
      Mathematics and statistics, other 6 6 7 5 6 6 5 2 8 1
    Physical sciences 24 27 40 37 36 36 29 29 32 38
      Astronomy and astrophysics . 1 2 . 1 . . . 1 .
      Chemistry 13 19 27 19 19 20 20 18 18 26
      Physics 11 7 11 18 16 16 9 11 13 12
    Psychology 13 15 21 15 21 12 16 25 21 13
      Clinical psychology 1 5 4 2 5 2 6 4 8 3
      Counseling and applied psychology 1 3 3 3 9 4 3 9 2 2
      Research and experimental psychology 5 1 8 4 2 2 1 4 4 3
      Psychology, other 6 6 6 6 5 4 6 8 7 5
    Social sciences 28 34 28 30 30 32 30 27 33 30
      Anthropology . . . 1 . . . . 2 1
      Economics 5 8 10 9 3 4 8 8 7 6
      Political science and government 2 1 1 4 2 3 2 3 4 6
      Public policy analysis . . . . . . 1 . . .
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 2 6 5 5 4 7 4 7 5 3
      Social sciences, other 19 19 12 11 21 18 15 9 15 14
  Non-science and engineering 73 75 71 66 64 61 64 64 72 63
    Business 11 16 14 9 10 6 10 13 8 16
      Business 11 16 14 9 10 6 10 13 8 16
    Education 34 37 35 36 38 36 40 36 45 30
      Education leadership and administration 2 2 . 4 . . 5 2 3 2
      Education research 16 19 22 23 25 16 26 25 31 21
      Teacher education and teaching fields 16 14 12 8 10 15 6 8 8 6
      Education, other . 2 1 1 3 5 3 1 3 1
    Humanities and arts 7 4 10 7 5 3 4 7 1 6
      Letters 3 2 6 5 2 3 2 5 . 4
      History 2 . 1 . . . 1 . 1 1
      Philosophy and religious studies . . 1 1 . . 1 1 . 1
      Music and performing arts . . 1 . . . . . . .
      Humanities and arts, other 2 2 1 1 3 . . 1 . .
    Other non-science and engineering 21 18 12 14 11 16 10 8 18 11
      Communication . . . . . . . . 1 .
      Public administration and social services 9 5 4 3 5 9 4 3 5 6
      Non-science and engineering, other 12 13 8 11 6 7 6 5 12 5

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   2,081   2,040   2,016   1,993   1,821   1,796   1,753   1,775   1,923   1,920
    Hispanic or Latino   188   167   159   146   134   136   133   121   136   125
    Not Hispanic or Latino   1,861   1,838   1,822   1,806   1,641   1,618   1,581   1,613   1,749   1,761
      American Indian or Alaska Native   1   4   4   5   4   4   6   5   3   3
      Asian   251   215   187   167   131   122   119   119   110   117
      Black or African American   147   125   134   131   120   114   101   107   118   119
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   0   1   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0
      White   1,353   1,403   1,407   1,420   1,308   1,295   1,274   1,314   1,456   1,463
      More than one race   109   90   90   83   78   83   80   68   62   59
    Unknown ethnicity and race   32   35   35   41   46   42   39   41   38   34
  Temporary visa holders   2,196   2,173   2,052   1,850   1,415   1,599   1,502   1,585   1,760   1,687
  Science and engineering   4,224   4,153   4,002   3,787   3,190   3,308   3,173   3,280   3,630   3,489
    Science   2,456   2,350   2,169   2,029   1,628   1,665   1,590   1,577   1,664   1,684
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   233   229   224   205   185   141   143   158   280   292
      Biological and biomedical sciences   425   405   373   351   329   336   325   279   347   350
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   15   17
      Computer and information sciences   807   752   635   576   312   297   241   231   227   211
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   44   52
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   67   64   60   57   44   50   53   54   58   58
      Mathematics and statistics   131   124   129   119   107   108   109   118   127   137
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   58   27   24   28   25   30   22   23   24   26
      Natural resources and conservation   173   174   177   173   141   152   153   143   0   0
      Physical sciences   246   246   228   197   195   204   218   214   213   212
      Psychology   97   91   91   90   97   58   50   59   64   70
      Social sciences   219   238   228   233   193   289   276   298   265   259
    Engineering   1,768   1,803   1,833   1,758   1,562   1,643   1,583   1,703   1,966   1,805
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   189   193   217   220   172   152   123   117   114   122
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   84   71   73   71   58   54   64   56   54   59
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   97   96   82   93   89   91   98   100   47   39
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   256   260   288   283   256   289   279   309   324   289
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   538   533   516   457   424   457   421   467   484   439
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   144   164   166   149   120   121   118   138   168   135
      Mechanical engineering   241   251   266   254   215   241   237   256   281   285
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   61   70   68   77   82   87   92   94   133   123
      Other engineering   158   165   157   154   146   151   151   166   361   314
    Health   53   60   66   56   46   87   82   80   53   118
      Clinical medicine   53   60   66   56   46   43   45   44   53   62
      Other health   0   0   0   0   0   44   37   36   0   56

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   1,146   1,157   1,206   1,216   1,168   1,108   1,093   1,077   1,129   1,176
    Hispanic or Latino   103   107   105   98   79   60   51   60   58   57
    Not Hispanic or Latino   1,007   1,002   1,037   1,038   1,011   1,011   1,003   984   1,040   1,087
      American Indian or Alaska Native   2   1   2   3   3   2   2   3   2   1
      Asian   157   125   131   140   138   130   130   127   104   87
      Black or African American   74   73   65   68   62   71   63   60   85   92
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   1   1   1   0   0   1   2   2   1   0
      White   727   750   784   781   772   768   763   754   825   882
      More than one race   46   52   54   46   36   39   43   38   23   25
    Unknown ethnicity and race   36   48   64   80   78   37   39   33   31   32
  Temporary visa holders   185   138   149   103   129   135   179   181   193   153
  Science and engineering   1,325   1,286   1,350   1,311   1,283   1,212   1,234   1,219   1,312   1,289
    Science   904   910   971   979   962   911   894   850   927   895
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   124   134   134   118   107   82   77   92   162   187
      Biological and biomedical sciences   22   18   22   25   18   25   27   13   47   46
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   4   3
      Computer and information sciences   515   477   523   519   561   564   542   477   407   317
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   37   45
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   4   5   4   3   3   2   4   5   4   4
      Mathematics and statistics   14   12   16   22   22   11   11   8   14   6
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   26   23   29   30   28   29   29   30   29   31
      Natural resources and conservation   97   123   123   124   103   64   71   74   0   0
      Physical sciences   7   6   5   11   8   14   9   11   11   6
      Psychology   21   12   14   25   20   8   13   12   10   14
      Social sciences   74   100   101   102   92   112   111   128   202   236
    Engineering   421   376   379   332   321   301   340   369   385   394
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   76   68   83   81   63   44   50   56   42   36
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   3   1   7   2   6   6   1   2   1   4
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   5   4   3   7   8   9   6   4   2   6
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   37   32   41   28   39   60   68   75   52   51
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   145   130   112   103   84   78   88   91   127   115
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   77   56   58   45   40   36   43   59   50   43
      Mechanical engineering   40   41   36   24   37   34   40   38   42   47
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   11   12   10   7   11   11   23   19   17   19
      Other engineering   27   32   29   35   33   23   21   25   52   73
    Health   6   9   5   8   14   31   38   39   10   40
      Clinical medicine   6   9   5   8   14   7   5   13   10   15
      Other health   0   0   0   0   0   24   33   26   0   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

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   1,072   1,053   973   964   883   834   795   756   759   775
  Science and engineering   1,068   1,050   969   964   881   824   783   748   755   765
    Science   537   470   444   410   341   320   314   312   317   350
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   68   56   55   48   39   20   29   26   58   75
      Biological and biomedical sciences   161   145   112   106   104   89   79   71   74   74
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   100   86   100   74   56   70   75   75   80   89
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   5   5
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   23   23   19   19   7   10   16   16   18   15
      Mathematics and statistics   17   16   9   15   18   17   12   11   22   18
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   5   0   2   3   2   2   2   1   1   2
      Natural resources and conservation   57   46   39   42   24   28   35   40   0   0
      Physical sciences   73   63   70   63   59   45   33   37   29   38
      Psychology   10   14   11   9   9   11   9   9   12   14
      Social sciences   23   21   27   31   23   28   24   26   18   20
    Engineering   531   580   525   554   540   504   469   436   438   415
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   57   69   67   75   67   56   42   31   29   35
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   15   12   22   29   19   15   18   15   15   18
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   40   42   27   28   23   23   27   23   9   11
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   67   67   70   64   61   49   42   50   56   60
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   155   171   152   155   178   173   170   153   145   116
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   24   33   29   32   35   23   19   11   9   12
      Mechanical engineering   82   89   79   83   71   69   68   73   78   77
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   31   31   35   33   44   50   35   32   39   30
      Other engineering   60   66   44   55   42   46   48   48   58   56
    Health   4   3   4   0   2   10   12   8   4   10
      Clinical medicine   4   3   4   0   2   5   5   3   4   1
      Other health   0   0   0   0   0   5   7   5   0   9

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   4,277   4,213   4,068   3,843   3,236   3,395   3,255   3,360   3,683   3,607
  Fellowships   91   80   87   78   70   77   65   76   61   70
    Federal   69   55   61   53   52   48   38   28   35   38
    Institutional   15   13   21   15   17   24   13   33   24   29
    Nonfederal   7   12   5   10   1   5   14   15   2   3
  Research assistantships   1,865   1,883   1,805   1,710   1,592   1,574   1,550   1,538   1,561   1,569
    Federal   972   985   900   907   821   781   749   720   714   726
    Institutional   688   686   686   595   576   591   558   591   619   600
    Nonfederal   205   212   219   208   195   202   243   227   228   243
  Teaching assistantships   1,177   1,078   1,136   1,096   1,025   1,157   1,068   1,065   1,159   1,111
    Federal   18   1   3   1   4   2   6   6   1   7
    Institutional   1,146   1,075   1,127   1,093   1,016   1,149   1,056   1,056   1,154   1,101
    Nonfederal   13   2   6   2   5   6   6   3   4   3
  Other types of support   1,144   1,172   1,040   959   549   587   572   681   902   857
    Federal   13   12   9   3   6   3   2   2   9   4
    Institutional   133   196   138   110   79   80   109   101   117   148
    Nonfederal   11   15   5   3   2   7   1   2   2   0
    Personal resources   987   949   888   843   462   497   460   576   774   705

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   306   264   243   229   220   199   207   221   205   203
    Science   222   183   174   162   151   124   126   127   116   120
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   33   34   33   34   27   16   12   14   29   28
      Biological and biomedical sciences   40   27   30   27   30   24   21   21   21   44
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   12   10   3   4   4   2   4   2   2   5
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   7   4   4   5   3   1   2   3   2   4
      Mathematics and statistics   17   15   9   5   5   5   3   3   1   1
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   38   34   30   28   34   23   35   32   35   8
      Natural resources and conservation   17   16   15   15   10   12   10   12   0   0
      Physical sciences   49   35   41   37   36   38   34   35   22   25
      Psychology   4   2   0   0   0   1   2   1   1   1
      Social sciences   5   6   9   7   2   2   3   4   3   4
    Engineering   84   81   69   67   69   75   81   94   89   83
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   3   4   3   4   3   4   3   2   1   4
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   4   5   6   4   6   8   6   4   4   5
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   2   1   4   1   2   0   1   4   4   3
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   26   25   16   16   10   10   23   24   23   21
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   19   15   15   14   18   23   20   21   17   16
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   0   0   0   3   3   3   4   1   2
      Mechanical engineering   13   15   16   19   15   13   13   22   22   13
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   6   5   2   4   5   4   4   5   9   8
      Other engineering   10   11   7   5   7   10   8   8   8   11
    Health   2   3   4   5   2   10   11   9   9   22
      Clinical medicine   2   3   4   5   2   3   1   2   2   14
      Other health   0   0   0   0   0   7   10   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

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   146   134   138   123   116   113   126   115   113   114
  Science and engineering   145   133   137   122   116   109   122   110   108   101
    Science   104   93   103   91   85   71   82   63   61   64
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   14   16   20   20   12   10   7   8   16   17
      Biological and biomedical sciences   21   20   19   17   17   12   15   10   14   27
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   3   2   3   2   1   0   4   1   2   4
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   3   1   1   2   1   1   2   1   1   2
      Mathematics and statistics   3   4   2   1   2   2   2   3   1   0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   15   17   15   13   15   12   20   14   17   2
      Natural resources and conservation   10   10   9   10   7   5   4   5   0   0
      Physical sciences   34   23   33   26   29   29   28   20   10   11
      Psychology   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1
      Social sciences   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   1   0   0
    Engineering   41   40   34   31   31   38   40   47   47   37
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   1   2   2   2   1   3   2   1   0   2
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   2   4   5   2   4   1   3   2   0   1
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   2   1   2   0   1   0   0   0   1   1
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   12   15   6   5   2   5   13   10   14   8
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   5   4   6   4   6   13   9   11   10   11
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   0   0   0   1   0   1   1   1   1
      Mechanical engineering   7   6   8   13   8   9   6   14   12   6
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   4   1   1   2   5   3   2   3   5   0
      Other engineering   7   7   4   3   3   4   4   5   4   7
    Health   1   1   1   1   0   4   4   5   5   13
      Clinical medicine   1   1   1   1   0   1   1   1   1   7
      Other health   0   0   0   0   0   3   3   4   4   6

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

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

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   656,916   598,113   591,861   542,045   556,341   541,969   531,636   522,425   521,773   504,282
    Science   349,640   311,809   313,070   284,517   282,461   273,941   274,820   284,530   284,052   269,800
      Computer and information sciences   41,836   30,263   28,642   25,466   30,405   23,536   27,614   33,035   27,386   24,646
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   6,616   6,047   4,652   3,534   3,068   4,185   3,867   4,503   4,385   6,107
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   286   140   149   185   61   0   0   0   0   52
        Geological and earth sciences   6,093   5,696   4,480   3,349   3,007   4,181   3,807   4,503   4,385   6,055
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   221   36   0   0   0   4   60   0   0   0
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   16   175   23   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Life sciences   243,388   221,029   223,775   207,204   199,798   198,424   198,326   198,911   221,801   209,678
        Agricultural sciences   85,178   84,682   92,790   80,513   84,380   73,691   69,788   72,715   79,726   104,627
        Biological and biomedical sciences   60,817   45,172   49,745   46,515   40,276   46,123   51,145   50,905   66,005   62,429
        Health sciences   61,232   51,779   48,844   51,942   47,236   49,883   48,797   45,406   45,498   39,101
        Natural resources and conservation   32,553   28,412   27,874   26,106   25,921   26,604   26,896   28,219   28,518   0
        Life sciences nec   3,608   10,984   4,522   2,128   1,985   2,123   1,700   1,666   2,054   3,521
      Mathematics and statistics   9,686   12,051   12,917   8,107   6,776   5,031   5,765   10,281   2,901   2,734
      Physical sciences   27,023   22,452   23,394   24,374   24,214   26,835   21,049   18,453   15,547   14,025
        Astronomy and astrophysics   498   394   19   130   39   176   64   212   23   0
        Chemistry   15,224   13,571   13,810   14,389   14,242   16,338   12,149   9,149   8,691   8,526
        Materials science   2,793   1,448   1,292   1,184   1,025   1,188   960   1,017   942   0
        Physics   8,009   6,660   7,798   7,913   7,831   7,909   6,511   5,637   5,366   4,901
        Physical sciences nec   499   379   475   758   1,077   1,224   1,365   2,438   525   598
      Psychology   8,294   6,359   5,111   4,169   4,899   4,286   4,350   4,359   3,535   4,425
      Social sciences   12,797   13,608   14,507   11,574   13,082   11,273   13,299   14,604   7,799   7,001
        Anthropology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   29   0   0
        Economics   6,821   6,332   6,429   5,176   5,163   1,340   2,070   2,871   1,334   1,932
        Political science and government   392   507   421   302   96   163   46   405   151   1,132
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   2,477   3,054   2,482   2,391   3,247   4,823   6,179   7,247   2,246   1,361
        Social sciences nec   3,107   3,715   5,175   3,705   4,576   4,947   5,004   4,052   4,068   2,576
      Sciences nec   0   0   72   89   219   371   550   384   698   1,184
    Engineering   277,605   261,707   260,158   246,965   263,711   258,213   245,755   226,810   228,281   225,702
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   27,985   23,321   26,384   20,824   18,219   14,890   12,490   9,738   12,215   11,344
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   23,282   33,666   28,433   20,998   22,519   28,445   15,709   20,463   12,374   12,522
      Chemical engineering   7,384   6,407   5,291   4,473   5,494   5,688   6,123   6,195   5,294   3,517
      Civil engineering   47,669   36,974   32,674   29,264   31,117   28,401   29,334   31,472   63,326   59,867
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   65,991   61,525   67,367   56,194   62,349   60,818   51,152   51,376   50,139   49,920
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   40,828   35,838   34,760   30,945   34,468   37,892   46,078   30,624   5,892   0
      Mechanical engineering   24,356   25,011   24,678   24,718   31,040   32,422   36,786   32,164   34,041   30,596
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   15,619   11,824   13,007   17,397   19,216   13,812   16,703   12,588   17,076   13,080
      Engineering nec   24,491   27,141   27,564   42,152   39,289   35,845   31,380   32,190   27,924   44,856
    Non-S&E   29,671   24,597   18,633   10,563   10,169   9,815   11,061   11,085   9,440   8,780
      Business management and business administration   4,416   4,983   4,875   3,748   3,232   2,426   288   902   770   352
      Communication and communications technologies   3   103   307   445   159   258   258   44   1   44
      Education   2,968   2,639   2,006   1,992   2,437   3,435   7,470   7,770   5,423   6,145
      Humanities   358   306   291   534   461   348   368   357   392   352
      Law   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   14   0
      Social work   0   0   0   72   73   67   0   0   3   88
      Visual and performing arts   489   743   901   413   522   578   930   771   1,206   804
      Non-S&E nec   21,437   15,823   10,253   3,359   3,285   2,703   1,747   1,241   1,631   995

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   656,916   308,282   80,644   203,511   34,282   20,079   10,118
    Science   349,640   155,636   61,813   109,640   9,013   9,448   4,090
      Computer and information sciences   41,836   21,187   6,076   11,812   1,938   430   393
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   6,616   3,566   839   1,884   0   9   318
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   286   253   0   32   0   0   1
        Geological and earth sciences   6,093   3,263   839   1,670   0   9   312
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   221   50   0   166   0   0   5
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   16   0   0   16   0   0   0
      Life sciences   243,388   100,245   50,866   75,613   5,754   7,941   2,969
        Agricultural sciences   85,178   23,958   27,889   28,175   3,129   1,280   747
        Biological and biomedical sciences   60,817   32,896   6,940   17,939   766   1,686   590
        Health sciences   61,232   27,624   6,550   22,011   482   3,869   696
        Natural resources and conservation   32,553   15,294   6,978   6,884   1,377   1,092   928
        Life sciences nec   3,608   473   2,509   604   0   14   8
      Mathematics and statistics   9,686   5,526   330   3,631   55   47   97
      Physical sciences   27,023   16,282   287   9,248   491   590   125
        Astronomy and astrophysics   498   371   0   48   0   78   1
        Chemistry   15,224   9,017   197   5,080   391   487   52
        Materials science   2,793   1,469   0   1,214   87   17   6
        Physics   8,009   5,186   90   2,647   13   8   65
        Physical sciences nec   499   239   0   259   0   0   1
      Psychology   8,294   4,691   889   2,140   449   44   81
      Social sciences   12,797   4,139   2,526   5,312   326   387   107
        Anthropology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Economics   6,821   2,778   2,238   1,719   32   12   42
        Political science and government   392   17   261   61   52   0   1
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   2,477   1,066   3   856   230   284   38
        Social sciences nec   3,107   278   24   2,676   12   91   26
      Sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   277,605   133,336   18,508   84,553   25,260   10,409   5,539
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   27,985   13,338   634   9,034   4,595   142   242
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   23,282   12,917   1,323   5,424   940   1,939   739
      Chemical engineering   7,384   4,800   0   1,939   561   1   83
      Civil engineering   47,669   21,935   8,540   12,413   880   2,932   969
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   65,991   32,940   2,937   19,722   6,600   3,205   587
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   40,828   19,949   2,755   11,686   4,591   854   993
      Mechanical engineering   24,356   11,775   827   5,737   4,122   1,146   749
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   15,619   8,129   102   6,702   325   107   254
      Engineering nec   24,491   7,553   1,390   11,896   2,646   83   923
    Non-S&E   29,671   19,310   323   9,318   9   222   489
      Business management and business administration   4,416   23   17   3,958   0   17   401
      Communication and communications technologies   3   0   0   0   0   3   0
      Education   2,968   1,606   141   1,073   0   101   47
      Humanities   358   95   0   169   0   81   13
      Law   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Social work   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Visual and performing arts   489   0   0   488   0   0   1
      Non-S&E nec   21,437   17,586   165   3,630   9   20   27

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   308,282   282,152   240,305   216,733   210,792   209,607   199,897   186,054   195,859   196,096
  DOD   79,525   71,734   56,414   47,432   49,263   54,557   48,716   42,806   42,177   41,359
  DOE   19,596   19,297   21,423   24,072   24,180   16,887   14,322   11,918   13,976   12,857
  HHS   68,891   61,996   48,876   40,865   38,223   37,013   37,715   35,745   36,715   36,079
  NASA   6,234   8,028   5,171   4,581   4,951   4,914   6,100   4,647   3,860   3,386
  NSF   64,465   58,394   51,087   48,740   46,235   43,603   41,651   39,598   37,153   32,749
  USDA   28,954   26,449   22,949   20,941   18,511   19,204   18,806   19,374   23,430   21,408
  Other   40,617   36,254   34,385   30,102   29,429   33,429   32,587   31,966   38,548   48,258

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   8,395   1,156   7,239   .
2018   8,251   1,103   7,148   .

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   1,819   1,760   1,658   1,591   1,518
    Agricultural sciences   638   455   438   385   343
    Biological and biomedical sciences   202   220   227   242   215
    Computer and information sciences   24   21   19   18   18
    Engineering   490   563   548   523   507
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   22   22   21   23   20
    Health sciences   143   307   196   196   215
    Mathematics and statistics   1   1   1   1   1
    Natural resources and conservation   70   71   73   74   63
    Physical sciences   68   68   68   75   66
    Psychology   15   14   13   14   14
    Social sciences   1   2   1   1   1
    Other   143   15   53   39   55

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   186,550   152,320   95,773   113,568   4,875
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   77,451   18,785   4,875
    Biological and biomedical sciences   0   0   0   55,254   0
    Computer and information sciences   0   86,164   0   9,632   0
    Engineering   186,550   66,156   18,322   18,977   0
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   0   0   0   10,920   0
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   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   20,872   7,297   11,750   8,391   10,436
    Agricultural sciences   2,732   2,698   1,340   433   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   854   2,594   0   1,253   4,204
    Computer and information sciences   300   0   0   881   3,337
    Engineering   2,285   1,291   6,232   976   1,200
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   0   273   3,193   349   1,695
    Mathematics and statistics   0   441   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   14,700   0   0   1,900   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   985   2,600   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

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