Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Rankings

Data year Earned doctorates Full-time graduate students Total R&D expenditures
Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked
2023 163 65 459 188 72.7 679 248 59.3 602 203 78.1 914
2022 193 58.3 457 184 73.3 680 201 78 900
2021 192 57.6 447 173 75.3 691 264 55.3 583 208 77.4 908
2020 198 56.6 450 183 74.2 698 214 77 916
2019 195 56.9 447 153 78.4 697 280 53 589 219 76.4 914
2018 187 56.9 428 178 74.9 700 230 75.1 911
2017 218 49.3 425 180 74 684 279 52 575 226 75.2 898
2016 248 43 430 178 74.8 697 216 76.2 896
2015 220 49 426 189 73.1 693 277 52 570 217 76.2 898
2014 248 41.9 422 196 71.9 688 227 74.8 889
NOTES:
  • 1. See TableBuilder for the prior year data.
  • 2. Blank white cells indicate data not available, not applicable, or institution not eligible for survey.
  • 3. Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

Data

Number of earned doctorates, by trend major field of study of recipients: 2023–14
Fields 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All fields 88 68 62 54 60 66 46 35 42 31
  Science and engineering 79 64 59 51 56 64 44 35 41 31
    Biological and biomedical sciences 9 2 6 6 3 3 1 3 4 3
      Biochemistry and biophysics 3 1 . . . 2 . 2 . .
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 1 . 2 2 . 1 . 1 3 .
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 1 . . 3 1 . . . . .
      Microbiology and immunology 1 1 . . . . . . . .
      Molecular biology 2 . 2 . . . . . . .
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 1 . . 1 2 . . . . .
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other . . 2 . . . 1 . 1 3
    Computer and information sciences 17 15 14 6 10 7 6 7 5 1
      Computer science 8 4 5 6 8 6 6 7 5 1
      Computer and information sciences, other 9 11 9 . 2 1 . . . .
    Engineering 40 38 24 33 34 49 30 17 29 24
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering . 1 1 2 1 3 . 1 1 .
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 3 3 4 6 2 5 2 3 4 3
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 3 3 1 5 2 4 4 2 1 1
      Civil, environmental, and transportation engineering 4 1 . 2 . 3 4 2 4 1
      Electrical and computer engineering 5 8 4 3 5 11 8 3 10 9
      Industrial engineering and operations research 1 2 2 1 3 2 . . . 2
      Materials and mining engineering 13 11 3 4 10 8 7 4 1 4
      Mechanical engineering 9 7 8 7 9 9 4 1 6 2
      Engineering, other 2 2 1 3 2 4 1 1 2 2
    Health sciences . . 2 . . . . . . .
      Health sciences, other . . 2 . . . . . . .
    Mathematics and statistics 6 4 3 2 6 3 5 4 . 1
      Applied mathematics 1 2 1 1 2 1 . 2 . 1
      Mathematics 1 . . 1 . . . . . .
      Statistics 2 1 2 . 1 . 1 . . .
      Mathematics and statistics, other 2 1 . . 3 2 4 2 . .
    Physical sciences 4 4 8 4 3 2 1 4 3 2
      Chemistry 1 2 2 . 3 1 . 3 2 .
      Physics 3 2 6 4 . 1 1 1 1 2
    Social sciences 3 1 2 . . . 1 . . .
      Economics . . . . . . 1 . . .
      Social sciences, other 3 1 2 . . . . . . .
  Non-science and engineering 9 4 3 3 4 2 2 . 1 .
    Business 6 3 2 1 1 . 2 . . .
      Business 6 3 2 1 1 . 2 . . .
    Education 2 1 . . 3 2 . . 1 .
      Education research 2 1 . . 3 2 . . . .
      Teacher education and teaching fields . . . . . . . . 1 .
    Humanities and arts . . 1 . . . . . . .
      Humanities and arts, other . . 1 . . . . . . .
    Other non-science and engineering 1 . . 2 . . . . . .
      Communication . . . 1 . . . . . .
      Non-science and engineering, other 1 . . 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: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
    Male 544 542 555 449 612 470 454 491 497 480
    Female 266 240 227 199 252 216 232 247 202 173
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents 321 329 290 284 242 233 199 207 222 221
    Hispanic or Latino 28 32 23 26 17 21 12 7 7 9
    Not Hispanic or Latino 258 292 243 252 223 207 184 198 212 207
      American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Asian 29 18 23 17 11 13 16 17 23 16
      Black or African American 9 11 8 13 6 5 9 7 7 7
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      White 209 253 203 211 200 183 154 171 179 178
      More than one race 11 10 9 11 6 6 5 3 3 6
    Unknown ethnicity and race 35 5 24 6 2 5 3 2 3 5
  Temporary visa holders 489 453 492 364 622 453 487 531 477 432
  Science and engineering 810 782 782 648 864 686 686 738 699 653
    Science 389 294 319 302 417 313 338 384 314 284
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 47 39 42 32 36 34 32 24 25 26
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 185 121 138 122 157 92 127 247 187 157
      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 24 24 34 44 65 56 71 86 77 74
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 95 74 77 80 130 100 82 0 1 1
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 38 36 27 23 27 30 26 27 24 26
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 421 488 463 346 447 373 348 354 385 369
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 27 21 25 18 25 20 16 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 34 33 33 31 32 30 29 36 32 28
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 42 48 36 32 30 24 20 19 22 24
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 21 21 21 21 15 18 20 21 28 31
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 55 55 46 52 68 50 63 76 93 119
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 3 6 7 8 15 15 15 15 12 6
      Mechanical engineering 187 247 241 117 181 138 116 33 46 50
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 29 37 39 46 60 57 42 43 45 35
      Other engineering 23 20 15 21 21 21 27 111 107 76
    Clinical medicine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

Part-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
    Male 538 624 552 651 551 693 690 660 614 664
    Female 206 236 218 246 191 226 237 196 180 197
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents 576 652 697 699 675 708 673 628 582 658
    Hispanic or Latino 42 58 57 52 40 44 40 41 41 31
    Not Hispanic or Latino 477 554 623 640 621 648 619 573 516 542
      American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 3 2 2
      Asian 48 66 50 69 70 71 63 58 48 53
      Black or African American 25 39 37 43 37 37 35 24 17 11
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
      White 382 427 515 508 493 525 505 472 429 454
      More than one race 22 22 21 18 19 12 14 15 19 22
    Unknown ethnicity and race 57 40 17 7 14 16 14 14 25 85
  Temporary visa holders 168 208 73 198 67 211 254 228 212 203
  Science and engineering 744 860 770 897 742 919 927 856 794 861
    Science 231 281 211 270 191 218 210 184 197 237
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 34 46 50 59 59 54 32 7 9 7
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 93 97 50 65 35 64 66 127 113 98
      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 18 38 32 43 30 34 40 32 39 40
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 66 76 55 83 51 50 57 2 14 66
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 18 21 22 17 13 15 14 8 11 11
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 2 3 2 3 3 1 1 8 11 15
    Engineering 513 579 559 627 551 701 717 672 597 624
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 24 16 17 14 11 15 19 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 24 24 12 20 21 19 15 15 15 20
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 8 15 13 7 4 10 6 11 10 9
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 16 25 30 31 39 47 38 30 35 43
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 86 115 138 157 153 146 146 112 127 132
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 95 123 126 114 109 157 171 196 171 205
      Mechanical engineering 188 194 154 219 158 228 213 119 85 89
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 35 35 34 30 22 28 39 36 42 46
      Other engineering 37 32 35 35 34 51 70 153 112 80
    Clinical medicine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health receiving primary support from federal sources, by field: 2023–14
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All surveyed fields 90 83 85 68 76 55 52 57 81 64
  Science and engineering 90 83 85 68 76 55 52 57 81 64
    Science 45 39 41 32 37 25 20 13 22 19
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 9 10 10 7 8 6 11 4 4 3
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 21 16 18 14 14 6 2 4 9 9
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mathematics and statistics 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 3 2
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 7 7 7 6 9 7 2 0 0 0
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 7 5 5 4 4 4 3 4 6 5
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 45 44 44 36 39 30 32 44 59 45
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 9 6 8 9 7 4 6 10 11 4
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 5 5 4 3 3 2 4 4 6 5
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 8 8 7 5 8 6 6 12 13 14
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 13 15 15 9 11 8 6 3 6 6
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 5
      Other engineering 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 5 11 7
  Health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Clinical medicine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by type and primary source of support: 2023–14
Type and primary source of support 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All types and sources of support 810 782 782 648 864 686 686 738 699 653
  Fellowships 59 60 65 45 53 39 0 1 7 3
    Federal 16 15 17 13 14 9 0 0 0 0
    Institutional 36 38 40 25 30 23 0 0 7 0
    Nonfederal 7 7 8 7 9 7 0 1 0 3
  Research assistantships 163 154 153 131 157 113 95 101 112 101
    Federal 73 67 67 54 62 46 47 46 69 56
    Institutional 54 52 52 46 55 35 24 22 22 22
    Nonfederal 36 35 34 31 40 32 24 33 21 23
  Teaching assistantships 171 157 164 144 170 137 111 133 120 137
    Federal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Institutional 171 157 164 144 170 137 111 133 120 137
    Nonfederal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Other types of support 417 411 400 328 484 397 480 503 460 412
    Federal 1 1 1 1 0 0 5 11 12 8
    Institutional 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 38 28 21
    Nonfederal 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
    Personal resources 416 410 399 326 484 397 448 454 420 382

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

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

Postdoctorates in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2023–14
All races 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
  Science and engineering 39 39 38 37 35 35 30 27 31 22
    Science 24 23 19 19 20 21 15 12 10 10
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 3 4 3 2 2 4 7 3 3 5
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 1
      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 8 9 7 8 8 8 7 0 0 0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 9 7 5 7 7 8 0 5 6 3
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 1 2 4 2 3 1 0 1 0 1
    Engineering 15 16 19 18 15 14 15 15 21 12
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 0 2 2 4 5 5 3 4 3 3
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 3 3 3 1 0 1 4 2
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
      Mechanical engineering 4 7 6 7 7 7 8 0 3 3
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 4 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 4 1
      Other engineering 4 4 4 1 0 1 3 5 2 2
    Clinical medicine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

Federally supported science, engineering, and health postdoctorates, by field: 2023–14
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
All surveyed fields 13 13 10 10 10 10 12 10 18 10
  Science and engineering 13 13 10 10 10 10 12 10 18 10
    Science 8 8 5 6 7 7 6 5 5 4
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological and biomedical sciences 2 3 2 1 1 2 5 2 1 1
      Communication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Computer and information sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 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 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Physical sciences 6 5 3 5 5 5 0 3 4 2
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
    Engineering 5 5 5 4 3 3 6 5 13 6
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 3
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
      Mechanical engineering 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 0 1 1
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields 4 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Other engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 1
  Health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Clinical medicine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

Total R&D expenditures, by field: 2023–14
(Dollars in thousands)
Field 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
  All R&D fields 66,353 56,904 48,702 43,092 39,878 33,067 33,368 37,822 36,130 29,929
    Science 24,118 22,013 20,142 18,191 16,793 10,860 10,307 10,142 10,135 9,184
      Computer and information sciences 10,974 10,044 10,707 10,150 7,301 3,578 3,694 4,140 4,924 4,605
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Atmospheric science and meteorology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Geological and earth sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        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 3,170 3,538 2,188 2,104 1,791 2,049 1,873 1,214 827 562
        Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Biological and biomedical sciences 3,170 3,538 2,188 2,104 1,791 2,049 1,873 1,214 827 562
        Health sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        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 0
      Mathematics and statistics 3,402 3,090 1,880 1,404 1,253 1,684 1,374 1,365 1,082 1,555
      Physical sciences 4,748 3,487 3,852 2,773 4,991 3,096 2,959 2,754 2,092 1,296
        Astronomy and astrophysics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Chemistry 2,305 1,523 1,613 1,422 1,722 2,035 2,342 1,989 1,015 687
        Materials science 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Physics 2,443 1,964 2,239 1,351 3,269 1,061 617 765 1,077 609
        Physical sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 1,824 1,854 1,515 1,760 1,457 453 407 669 1,210 1,166
        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 0 0 0 0
        Sociology, demography, and population studies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Social sciences nec 1,824 1,854 1,515 1,760 1,457 453 407 669 1,210 1,166
      Sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 37,920 31,514 27,108 23,758 21,029 20,617 21,355 24,779 23,775 17,360
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 1,864 688 484 97 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 3,006 2,084 3,811 3,980 3,058 3,456 2,965 2,649 2,630 4,286
      Chemical engineering 4,180 3,303 2,881 3,044 2,017 1,984 2,290 3,006 3,135 2,723
      Civil engineering 787 576 766 732 494 633 735 537 698 478
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering 4,292 3,046 2,496 2,236 2,024 3,182 3,065 2,692 2,402 2,358
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 20,941 18,938 14,243 10,747 11,327 9,252 9,040 12,454 12,122 5,200
      Metallurgical and materials engineering 684 1,294 1,419 2,252 1,599 1,669 1,529 1,369 1,594 1,705
      Engineering nec 2,166 1,585 1,008 670 510 441 1,731 2,072 1,194 610
    Non-S&E 4,315 3,377 1,452 1,143 2,056 1,590 1,706 2,901 2,220 3,385
      Business management and business administration 1,856 2,169 885 369 698 388 615 687 688 627
      Communication and communications technologies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Education 648 0 5 311 1,129 641 686 360 0 0
      Humanities 745 247 148 97 52 244 102 41 76 188
      Law 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social work 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Visual and performing arts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Non-S&E nec 1,066 961 414 366 177 317 303 1,813 1,456 2,570

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

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

Total R&D expenditures, by source of funds and R&D field: 2023
(Dollars in thousands)
Field All R&D expenditures Federal government State and local government Institution funds Business Nonprofit organizations All other sources
  All R&D fields 66,353 37,736 2,141 20,202 4,072 1,380 822
    Science 24,118 15,522 8 7,406 432 522 228
      Computer and information sciences 10,974 8,476 0 2,094 110 191 103
      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 3,170 1,519 0 1,147 210 228 66
        Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Biological and biomedical sciences 3,170 1,519 0 1,147 210 228 66
        Health sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 3,402 1,947 0 1,450 0 5 0
      Physical sciences 4,748 2,787 0 1,815 112 34 0
        Astronomy and astrophysics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Chemistry 2,305 1,408 0 751 112 34 0
        Materials science 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Physics 2,443 1,379 0 1,064 0 0 0
        Physical sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Psychology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social sciences 1,824 793 8 900 0 64 59
        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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
        Social sciences nec 1,824 793 8 900 0 64 59
      Sciences nec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 37,920 20,579 1,981 10,420 3,640 718 582
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 1,864 1,180 0 664 0 20 0
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 3,006 1,022 0 1,366 92 514 12
      Chemical engineering 4,180 1,975 255 1,618 211 101 20
      Civil engineering 787 289 0 467 0 0 31
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering 4,292 1,461 1,000 1,416 223 68 124
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Mechanical engineering 20,941 13,224 663 4,473 2,171 15 395
      Metallurgical and materials engineering 684 0 0 0 684 0 0
      Engineering nec 2,166 1,428 63 416 259 0 0
    Non-S&E 4,315 1,635 152 2,376 0 140 12
      Business management and business administration 1,856 769 94 936 0 57 0
      Communication and communications technologies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Education 648 306 58 272 0 0 12
      Humanities 745 0 0 664 0 81 0
      Law 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Social work 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Visual and performing arts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Non-S&E nec 1,066 560 0 504 0 2 0

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

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

Federally funded R&D expenditures, by federal agency: 2023–14
(Dollars in thousands)
Source of funds 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Federal Agencies 37,736 34,004 30,166 26,074 22,964 18,635 19,566 25,976 26,327 19,643
  DOD 10,249 9,100 8,391 6,870 5,945 3,824 4,500 9,382 11,048 6,510
  DOE 3,200 3,184 2,733 1,706 1,177 676 885 1,312 1,596 1,084
  HHS 5,543 4,566 4,175 4,317 4,692 4,902 3,919 3,795 2,786 2,182
  NASA 577 598 348 169 407 277 186 125 103 88
  NSF 13,042 11,976 10,889 10,551 8,082 7,307 7,748 7,804 7,619 7,047
  USDA 324 318 301 185 261 282 39 49 5 82
  Other 4,801 4,262 3,329 2,276 2,400 1,367 2,289 3,509 3,170 2,650

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

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

Headcount of R&D personnel: 2023–17 [temporarily discontinued]
Year
2023 . . . .
2022 . . . .
2021 . . . .
2020 . . . .
2019 801 183 618 .
2018 715 125 590 .
2017 692 111 581 .

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 168 143 133 127 130
    Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Biological and biomedical sciences 29 20 20 22 31
    Computer and information sciences 12 9 9 8 6
    Engineering 101 84 80 78 75
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Health sciences 9 15 1 0 0
    Mathematics and statistics 3 4 7 3 3
    Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0
    Physical sciences 12 8 14 14 13
    Psychology 2 1 1 1 1
    Social sciences 1 2 2 2 1
    Other 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

New construction of science and engineering research space, by field and time of construction: 2025–16
(Net assignable square feet in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space Planned to start in FY 2024 or FY 2025 Started in FY 2022 or FY 2023 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021 Started in FY 2018 or FY 2019 Started in FY 2016 or FY 2017 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021
  All research space . . 21,000 . . 0
    Biological and biomedical sciences . . 800 . . 0
    Computer and information sciences . . 6,150 . . 0
    Engineering . . 12,250 . . 0
    Social sciences . . 1,800 . . 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 0 5,732 11,686 5,978 619
    Agricultural sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Biological and biomedical sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Computer and information sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Engineering 0 5,732 10,357 4,263 619
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 0 0 0 0 0
    Health sciences 0 0 886 858 0
    Mathematics and statistics 0 0 0 0 0
    Natural resources and conservation 0 0 0 0 0
    Physical sciences 0 0 443 858 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

Open printer friendly view

Back to Top of page.