Higher Education Research and Development (HERD)
This series provides current and historical trends on the amounts and types of research and development activities at U.S. colleges and universities. Beginning with 2010, data are collected using the Higher Education R&D (HERD) Survey, successor to the Survey of R&D Expenditures at Universities and Colleges.
NOTE: Tables from previous years can be found in the Academic R&D Expenditures series.
Data related to this publication series may be accessed through
the Interactive Data Tool
Most recent data year
- Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2023
Data Tables | NSF 25-314 | November 25, 2024 New - Higher Education R&D Expenditures Increased 11.2%, Exceeded $108 Billion in FY 2023
InfoBriefs | NSF 25-313 | November 25, 2024 New - R&D Expenditures at U.S. Universities Increased by $8 Billion in FY 2022
InfoBriefs | NSF 24-307 | November 30, 2023 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2022
Data Tables | NSF 24-308 | November 30, 2023 - Universities Report Largest Growth in Federally Funded R&D Expenditures Since FY 2011
InfoBriefs | NSF 23-303 | December 15, 2022 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2021
Data Tables | NSF 23-304 | December 15, 2022 - Higher Education R&D Increase of 3.3% in FY 2020 Is the Lowest since FY 2015
InfoBriefs | NSF 22-312 | December 27, 2021 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2020
Data Tables | NSF 22-311 | December 27, 2021 - Universities Report 5.7% Growth in R&D Spending in FY 2019, Reaching $84 Billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 21-313 | January 29, 2021 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2019
Data Tables | NSF 21-314 | January 29, 2021 - Higher Education R&D Funding from All Sources Increased for the Third Straight Year in FY 2018(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 20-302 | November 13, 2019 - Higher Education R&D Expenditures Increased 4.7%, Exceeded $75 Billion in FY 2017(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 19-302 | November 20, 2018 - Universities Report Increased Federal R&D Funding after 4-year Decline; R&D Fields Revised for FY 2016(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 18-303 | November 30, 2017 - Universities Report Fourth Straight Year of Declining Federal R&D Funding in FY 2015(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 17-303 | November 17, 2016 - Universities Report Continuing Decline in Federal R&D Funding in FY 2014(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 16-302 | November 17, 2015 - Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Fiscal Year 2014(A)
Data Tables | November 17, 2015 - Higher Education R&D Expenditures Resume Slow Growth in FY 2013(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 15-314 | February 4, 2015 - Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Fiscal Year 2013(A)
Data Tables | February 4, 2015 - Higher Education R&D Expenditures Remain Flat in FY 2012(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 14-303 | November 25, 2013 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2011(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-325 | July 11, 2013 - Universities Report Highest-Ever R&D Spending of $65 Billion in FY 2011(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 13-305 | November 26, 2012 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2010(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-330 | September 6, 2012 - With Help from ARRA, Universities Report $61 Billion in FY 2010 Total R&D; New Details from Redesigned Survey(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 12-313 | March 28, 2012
(A): Archived Publication
Last Updated: June 05, 2013
