University of Maryland Research Spending Rises, Earning Top 20 Ranking From NSF

The University of Maryland continues to boost its spending on impactful research, earning it a spot among the top 20 U.S. research institutions in the latest National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey, the most widely recognized national ranking for universities engaged in sponsored research.

In the latest survey, released Nov. 30, UMD ranked 11th nationally among public institutions and 19th overall in research and development spending in fiscal year 2022. The University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore are linked as one research enterprise in the survey and reported combined research expenditures of almost $1.23 billion, an increase of about $86 million from the previous year.

Maryland is one of just six states to boast more than one research institution at or above $1 billion in research spending, with Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University nabbing the top spot in the survey.

“Maryland may be a small state geographically, but we are clearly a force to be reckoned with when it comes to research awards and spending,” said Vice President for Research Gregory F. Ball. “We are in very good company with the other prestigious universities ranked near us in this survey, and this is a true testament to our dedicated faculty and staff in both College Park and Baltimore who work tirelessly to improve the lives of people in our state, nation and world through innovative and creative research.”

While the HERD Survey looks specifically at research and development spending, the University of Maryland, College Park also brought in a record-breaking total of $834 million in awards for research and other sponsored activities in fiscal year 2023. It’s the highest total ever recorded by the College Park campus, an increase of 23%—more than $157 million—over the previous year.

“Seeing such strong numbers on both the awards and expenditures ends is a true sign of the health of our overall research enterprise and proof of our commitment to not only earn research dollars, but make sure they are spent appropriately,” said Denise Clark, associate vice president for research administration.

Ball pointed to the university’s strategic plan, Fearlessly Forward: In Pursuit of Excellence and Impact for the Public Good, which emphasizes supporting research to benefit humanity, as a catalyst for the upward trajectory of the university’s research enterprise. To help make the plan tangible, UMD’s $30 million Grand Challenges Grants program, launched in the spring, funded 50 research projects across campus with a goal of helping faculty and staff attract external grants in the near future.

And alongside research prowess, UMD is a top-5 university for entrepreneurship, according to rankings released Nov. 7 by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.