Useful Stats: Academic R&D Expenditures by State, 2000-2004

In 2004, U.S. academic R&D expenditures totaled $42.9 billion up 7.21 percent from 2003, according to the National Science Foundation's Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, FY 2004. The NSF report details R&D expenditures at public colleges and universities by geographic location, institution, science and engineering fields, and source of funding.

 

Using NSF data, SSTI has prepared a table presenting state rankings and figures for academic R&D from 2000 to 2004. Over the five-year period, North Dakota and South Dakota more than doubled their academic R&D expenditures, with an increase of 125.07 percent and 107.27 percent, respectively. In addition to the Dakotas, six other states increased academic R&D by more than 60 percent: New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.

 

When ranked by academic R&D spending, the top 10 states showed little change from 2000 to 2004. California, New York and Texas maintained first, second and third places, while Maryland and Pennsylvania switched ranks to 4th and 5th places, respectively. In addition, Ohio moved up to 10th place replacing Georgia, which dropped down to 12.



On the other hand, movement amongst the lower 10 rankings was noticeably more dramatic. For example, Montana (42nd), North Dakota (43rd), West Virginia (45th) and Vermont (47th) moved up in ranks over the five years.



Overall, Tennessee made the largest increase in rank moving from 26th in 2000 to 20th in 2004. Mississippi and North Dakota tied for second, moving up four spots to 31 and 43, respectively. Conversely, Delaware and Oklahoma showed the largest decrease in rank falling four spots to 48 and 36, respectively.

 

SSTIs table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/081406t.htm



Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, FY 2004 is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf06323/start.cfm