University of Texas at Austin has been ranked No. 1 in the United States for research funded by the National Science Foundation, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s most influential public research institutions.
The ranking is based on the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey for fiscal year 2024, the most widely used benchmark for comparing research activity across U.S. universities. UT Austin conducted $176.4 million in NSF-supported research during the year. The university also placed No. 5 nationally for research funded by the Department of Defense and No. 6 for funding from the Department of Energy.
Together, NSF, DOD and DOE support a wide range of science and engineering research at UT Austin, spanning artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy systems and national security applications.
“It is a privilege to have the long-held trust of the federal government, built and sustained over several decades, and the opportunity to contribute to America’s dominance in energy, science and national security,” said Jim Davis, president of UT Austin. He credited faculty and graduate researchers for driving advances in areas such as AI and semiconductors that are increasingly central to U.S. competitiveness.
Sustained federal backing
The HERD survey, administered by the NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, shows UT Austin has remained among the top 10 recipients of NSF, DOD and DOE funding for each of the past five years. More than 75% of the university’s externally funded research is supported by federal agencies, underscoring the depth of its government partnerships.
Recent projects highlight how that funding translates into applied impact. NSF support is enabling the Texas Advanced Computing Center to build Horizon, set to become the most powerful academic supercomputer in the U.S., with applications ranging from AI development to climate modeling. Other NSF-backed initiatives are focused on improving the reliability of machine-learning systems and accelerating materials research for next-generation energy, quantum and semiconductor technologies.
Defense-funded programs are advancing autonomous robotics for applications such as search-and-rescue and disaster response, while DOE-backed research at the Jackson School of Geosciences is exploring methane hydrates as a potential future energy resource.
Growing research scale
Beyond federal funding, UT Austin’s overall research enterprise continues to expand. Total research expenditures reached $1.14 billion in FY24 and rose further to $1.37 billion in FY25. The university accounted for nearly $700 million in federal research spending and ranked No. 16 nationally for industry-sponsored research, with corporate partners investing $94 million.
The figures reflect a research model increasingly aligned with national priorities in technology, energy and security, while maintaining strong ties to industry and public-sector partners.
