UArizona among top 20 in public university research spending

PHOENIX — The University of Arizona spent more than $734 million in total research activity in fiscal year 2019, placing the school No. 19 among all public research institutions in the nation, according to data released last month.

Determined by the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development survey of more than 920 colleges and universities, the university’s expenditures mark an increase of over $47 million from the previous year and a one-spot increase in the rankings.

Arizona State University, meanwhile, wasn’t far behind, ranking No. 26 among public universities with $639 million. Northern Arizona spent $58 million, good for No. 139 among public universities.

Among both public and private universities, the University of Arizona comes in at the No. 34 spot.

“The University of Arizona’s research enterprise continues to make innovative breakthroughs on a global scale,” University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins said in a press release.

“From the incredible OSIRIS-REx mission to our lifesaving medical research – including two novel tests for COVID-19 – University of Arizona researchers have far-reaching vision and tackle the most pressing of our current challenges. I am incredibly proud to see their innovation reflected in these rankings.”

The survey found the University of Arizona continues to be one of the best schools in the country for astronomy and astrophysics research, as the university retained the top spot with expenditures of more than $113 million. The school also ranked No. 4 in physical sciences and No. 6 in NASA-funded activity.

The University of Michigan spent the most on research expenditures among public universities at $1.6 billion, while John Hopkins University took the top spot overall with nearly $3 billion.

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