Research Statistics
With more than $900 million in annual research expenditures, the University of Minnesota’s research enterprise continues to grow, driven by greater diversification of funding sources and enhanced public-private partnership.
The Office of the Vice President for Research tracks key research metrics for the University, including national rankings, proposals and awards, sponsored expenditures, and technology commercialization performance measures. Faculty and staff seeking detailed data, including college level statistics from previous years, can access the OVPR Research Reporting Center.
National Rankings
The U of M consistently ranks among the top 10 of public research universities and remains among an elite group of public institutions in the US.
Top 10 Public Institutions
| Institution | Ranking | Expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 1 | $1,369,278 |
| Washington | 2 | $1,180,563 |
| UC San Francisco | 3 | $1,126,620 |
| UC San Diego | 4 | $1,101,466 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $1,069,077 |
| UCLA | 6 | $1,021,227 |
| North Carolina | 7 | $966,781 |
| Minnesota - Twin Cities | 8 | $880,618 |
| Texas A&M | 9 | $866,678 |
| Pittsburgh | 10 | $861,205 |
Source: 2015 National Science Foundation HERD Survey. Dollar amounts represented in thousands.
Sponsored Expenditures
The National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey is the primary source of comparative information on research expenditures at US colleges and universities.
On its Twin Cities campus, the University posted $880.6 million in research expenditures. (The HERD survey requires the University to report Twin Cities alone.) When all U of M campuses are reported together, the total is $910 million
Proposals & Awards
In fiscal year 2016, faculty and staff competed successfully for a record $788 million in externally sponsored research funding, up $13 million (4.5 percent) from fiscal year 2015 and a record amount, when excluding one-time federal stimulus funds.
While federal funding stayed relatively flat from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016 (up 0.6 percent), the University’s research portfolio continued a decade-long trend of diversifying its funding sources, with non-federal sources increasing their share of the awards pie.
Technology Commercialization
The University’s Office for Technology Commercialization (OTC) launched a record 17 startup companies in 2016, and passed a milestone of 100 startups launched since 2006. (See OTC Annual Report for more highlights.)
The University holds 900 patents and more than 1,800 current licenses for U of M technology. In fiscal year 2016, OTC received 402 invention disclosures from U of M research, exceeding its annual goal and achieving one of five accountability measures tracked by the University as a condition to receive its full biennial appropriation from the State of Minnesota.
Economic Development
According to a 2011 economic impact study, the University has an $8.6 billion economic impact on the state, with more than 10,000 Minnesota companies started by U of M alumni. University of Minnesota inventions have generated more than $390 million in revenue for the state.
Annual Report on Research
See our latest Annual Report on Research for current statistics on research awards, expenditures, and rankings.
Looking for More?
Faculty and staff seeking more detailed data, including college-level statistics from previous years, can access the OVPR Research Reporting Center. For questions about the reporting center, contact Office of Research Information Systems (ORIS), oris@umn.edu, 612-626-8707.
For media inquiries and other general information requests, contact Dan Gilchrist, dang@umn.edu, 612-624-2609.