Useful Stats: Total R&D Expenditures at Universities and Colleges

U.S. colleges and universities spent $51.9 billion on research and development (R&D) in 2008, according to new data from the National Science Foundation (NSF). National R&D spending increased 5 percent in 2008 over 2007 spending and 29.4 percent over the spending levels five years earlier. Between 2003 and 2008, every state except Alaska increased its R&D spending. All except Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi and Wyoming increased their spending over 2007.

Academic R&D Expenditures: FY 2008 provides the results of NSF's annual survey of colleges and universities covering their separately budgeted R&D expenditures in science and engineering fields. The statistical tables provide spending data by type of institution, funding agency and field of research. Data also is included on expenditures for research equipment and for research at federally-funded R&D Centers (FFRDCs).

SSTI has prepared a summary table that presents academic R&D spending by state from 2003 to 2008. The table also includes data on the percent change and relative rank change of states during that period and the percentage of each state's expenditures that originate from federal sources. (Last year's table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/032509at.htm.)

California led the country in overall R&D expenditures, spending $7 billion in 2008. Other top spenders include New York, Texas, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Every state except Alaska increased its R&D spending between 2003 and 2008. South Dakota colleges and universities led the country in R&D spending growth during that period, increasing expenditures by 83.7 percent. Maine, Hawaii, North Dakota and North Carolina round out the top five states for growth in R&D expenditures.

Of the $51.9 billion spent on academic R&D in the U.S. in 2008, $31.2 billion originated from the federal government. State and local governments provided $3.4 billion of funds used for national academic research spending, indusry sources provided $2.9 billion and institutional sources provided $10.4 billion. Alaska led the country in percentage of R&D funds from federal sources; however, federal support for the state decreased from 2007 levels while R&D expenditures fell overall. Washington, D.C., Colorado, Vermont and Massachusetts were the other top spenders of federal R&D dollars. SSTI's table of academic R&D expenditures by state is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/042110t.htm.

Academic R&D Expenditures: FY2008 is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10311/pdf/nsf10311.pdf