Higher Education Research and Development Survey (HERD)
As part of NCSES's ongoing website redesign project, the Higher Education Research and Development Survey (HERD) page has been reimagined. Beginning in May 2023, only survey data published from the 2021 cycle or earlier will be available on this page. Data from all subsequent cycles will be published on our new Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey page.
The Higher Education Research and Development Survey is the primary source of information on research and development expenditures at U.S. colleges and universities. The survey collects information on R&D expenditures by field of research and source of funds and also gathers information on types of research, expenses, and headcounts of R&D personnel. The survey is an annual census of institutions that expended at least $150,000 in separately accounted for R&D in the fiscal year.
Survey Description
Questionnaires
Overview: HERD
This overview provides a brief introduction to the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, general details on the type of information collected, and how to access the data.
- Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2021
Data Tables | NSF 23-304 | December 15, 2022 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2020
Data Tables | NSF 22-311 | December 27, 2021 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2019
Data Tables | NSF 21-314 | January 29, 2021 - Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Fiscal Year 2014(A)
Data Tables | November 17, 2015 - Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Fiscal Year 2013(A)
Data Tables | February 4, 2015 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2011(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-325 | July 11, 2013 - Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2010(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-330 | September 6, 2012 - Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2009(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 11-313 | July 13, 2011 - Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2007(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 09-303 | March 11, 2009 - Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2006(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 08-300 | November 16, 2007 - Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2005(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 07-318 | May 9, 2007 - Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2004(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 06-323 | August 9, 2006 - Academic S&E R&D Expenditures: FY 1995(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 97-405 | January 1, 1997 - Selected Data on Academic S&E R&D Expenditures: FY 1995(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 95-403 | December 1, 1996 - Academic S&E R&D Expenditures: FY 1994(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 96-308 | February 1, 1996 - Selected Data on Academic S&E R&D Expenditures: FY 1993(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 95-326 | March 1, 1995 - See more in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) →
- Science and Engineering State Profiles
- State Profiles is an interactive website providing access to state-level data on science and engineering (S&E) personnel and finances and state rankings. State Profiles displays up to 7 state profiles of the user’s choice. Data are available from surveys sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation on employed S&E doctorate holders; S&E doctorates awarded, including by major S&E fields; S&E graduate students and postdoctorates; federal research and development obligations by agency and performer; state government agency R&D expenditures; total and business R&D performance; and higher education R&D performance, including by major S&E fields. Data available from other sources include population, civilian labor force, per capita personal income, federal expenditures, patents, small business innovation research awards, and gross domestic product. All data are available for download. Data cover 2003 to present.
Because of the time it takes to produce and post the Science and Engineering State Profiles data set, some source data may have been updated since these profiles were created. See the source data for the most up-to-date information.
(A): Archived Publication
- Higher Education R&D Expenditures Increased 11.2%, Exceeded $108 Billion in FY 2023
InfoBriefs | NSF 25-313 | November 25, 2024 - R&D Expenditures at U.S. Universities Increased by $8 Billion in FY 2022
InfoBriefs | NSF 24-307 | 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 R&D Increase of 3.3% in FY 2020 Is the Lowest since FY 2015
InfoBriefs | NSF 22-312 | 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 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 - Higher Education R&D Spending: Spending and Funding Sources Differ by State(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 19-303 | March 7, 2019 - 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 R&D Expenditures Resume Slow Growth in FY 2013(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 15-314 | February 4, 2015 - Higher Education R&D Expenditures Remain Flat in FY 2012(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 14-303 | November 25, 2013 - Universities Report Highest-Ever R&D Spending of $65 Billion in FY 2011(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 13-305 | November 26, 2012 - Two NSF Surveys on R&D Document Varied Relationships between Businesses and Academia(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 13-333 | September 19, 2013 - 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 - Universities Report $55 Billion in Science and Engineering R&D Spending for FY 2009; Redesigned Survey to Launch in 2010(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 10-329 | September 27, 2010 - Federal Government is Largest Source of University R&D Funding in S&E; Share Drops in FY 2008(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 09-318 | October 1, 2009 - Universities Report Continued Decline in Real Federal S&E R&D Funding in FY 2007(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 08-320 | August 21, 2008 - Universities Report Stalled Growth in Federal R&D Funding in FY 2006(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 07-336 | September 26, 2007 - Industrial Funding of Academic R&D Rebounds in FY 2005(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 07-311 | January 30, 2007 - Industrial Funding of Academic R&D Continues to Decline in FY 2004(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 06-315 | April 28, 2006 - Academic R&D Doubled During Past Decade, Reaching $40 Billion in FY 2003(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 05-315 | July 19, 2005 - US Academic R&D Continues to Grow as More Universities and Colleges Expand Their R&D Activities(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 04-319 | May 11, 2004 - Academic R&D Spending Maintains Growth from All Sources in FY 2001(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 03-327 | September 3, 2003 - Academic R&D Spending Continues Steady Growth in FY 1998(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 00-326 | August 14, 2000 - Academic R&D Expenditures Maintain Steady Growth in FY 1996(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 98-303 | March 1, 1998 - Federal Share of Academic R&D Climbed to 60 Percent in FY 1993(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 95-301 | May 25, 1995 - See more in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) →
- Publications Output: U.S. Trends and International Comparisons
Special Reports | NSB 2021-4 | October 28, 2021 - Science and Technology: Public Perceptions, Awareness, and Information Sources
Special Reports | NSB 2022-7 | May 4, 2022 - The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers
Special Reports | NSB 2021-2 | August 31, 2021 - See more in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) →
- Trends in the Relationship between U.S. Academic Scientific Publication Output and Funding and Personnel Inputs: 1988–2011(A)
Working Papers | NCSES 16-200 | June 16, 2016 - See more in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) →
(A): Archived Publication
- Academic Institution Profiles
- This interactive website provides access to selected data on the number of earned doctorates, number of graduate students and postdoctorates in science and engineering, total federal obligations, and total R&D expenditures by individual U.S. academic institutions. Academic Institution Profiles also includes rankings of institutions by four selected variables. Data come from four NCSES surveys: the Higher Education R&D Survey; the Survey of Earned Doctorates; the Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges and Nonprofit Institutions; and the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering. Data cover the most recent 10 years and are available for download.
- Definitions of Research and Development
- This special publication provides definitions of research and development (R&D) from several official U.S. and international organizations. The document is designed as a reference for researchers and other users of data on R&D expenditures. In addition to definitions from National Science Foundation (NSF) surveys on R&D expenditures, the document includes definitions from regulatory, Federal procurement, and accounting sources. International sources include manuals from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the System of National Accounts.
- National Patterns of R&D Resources
- This series presents trend data on the overall research and development effort in the United States. Information includes R&D expenditures by sector of performance, source of funds, character of R&D work, R&D-to-GDP ratios, and international comparisons.
- Science and Engineering Indicators
- This biennial report to Congress provides a broad base of quantitative information about U.S. science, engineering, and technology.
- Science and Engineering State Profiles
- State Profiles is an interactive website providing access to state-level data on science and engineering (S&E) personnel and finances and state rankings. State Profiles displays up to 7 state profiles of the user’s choice. Data are available from surveys sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation on employed S&E doctorate holders; S&E doctorates awarded, including by major S&E fields; S&E graduate students and postdoctorates; federal research and development obligations by agency and performer; state government agency R&D expenditures; total and business R&D performance; and higher education R&D performance, including by major S&E fields. Data available from other sources include population, civilian labor force, per capita personal income, federal expenditures, patents, small business innovation research awards, and gross domestic product. All data are available for download. Data cover 2003 to present.
Because of the time it takes to produce and post the Science and Engineering State Profiles data set, some source data may have been updated since these profiles were created. See the source data for the most up-to-date information.
Michael T. Gibbons
Survey Manager
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
(703) 292-4590
Last Updated: November 2024
