The University of South Florida continues to gain momentum as a national research institution, reporting $522 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2024, according to the latest Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey from the National Science Foundation. The total reflects a $61 million year-over-year increase and positions USF among the fastest-growing research universities in the United States.
USF now ranks No. 47 among 422 public universities, up two spots from the previous year, and No. 69 among more than 900 public and private institutions nationwide, rising from No. 75 in fiscal 2023. The university ranks second among Florida’s public institutions. Its 13% annual growth rate exceeds that of more than 90% of members of the Association of American Universities, while research spending has increased nearly 29% over the past two years.
“USF researchers are driving discoveries that advance health, security and resilience for our local communities and beyond,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Prasant Mohapatra. “Our continued rise in national research rankings reflects the power of their collaboration and their unwavering commitment to serving the public good.”
Federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation account for more than half of USF’s research expenditures. Computer and information sciences posted the strongest gains, climbing 26 spots since 2022 to No. 25 among public universities, supported by $25.3 million in spending and expanded research in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity within the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. In fiscal 2024, the NSF awarded USF a $3.7 million cybersecurity grant to launch the Cybersecurity Research and Education for Service in Government (CREST) program, preparing students for federal service roles.
Additional advances were recorded in geosciences, atmospheric and ocean sciences, which rose to No. 29, and mathematics and statistics, which climbed 14 spots to No. 45. Applied research includes the CRIS-HAZARD flood-monitoring app led by Professor Barnali Dixon. “The more accurately we can predict floods, the better we can prepare for them,” Dixon said. “The CRIS-HAZARD app helps both residents and decision-makers by providing up-to-date information.”
The HERD rankings also factor into the Florida Board of Governors’ Preeminent Research University metrics, where USF remains a top performer. Together, the latest results underscore USF’s expanding impact across research, workforce development, and community resilience in Florida and beyond.
