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ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å reports record research and development expenditures in FY24

February 20, 2026

Each year, the National Science Foundation conducts the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, which tracks research and development (R&D) expenditures at colleges and universities nationwide. The survey is used in national rankings, federal program eligibility and institutional comparisons.

According to data summarized by the University of Alaska (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å) Federal Relations team, the ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system reported $273.3 million in total research and development expenditures in federal fiscal year 2024, the highest total ever reported by the system.

FY24 key takeaways

• $273.3 million in total R&D expenditures
• 14% increase from FY23
• 55% increase over the past five years

The University of Alaska Anchorage (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åA) reported $24.649 million and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF) reported $246.295 million, both the highest totals in their histories. The University of Alaska Southeast (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åS) reported $2.398 million, its second-highest total.

ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF accounted for approximately 90% of total ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system R&D expenditures in FY24.

Funding sources

Federal agency funding accounted for $184.6 million, or 68% of total ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system R&D expenditures in FY24. At ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF, federal funding accounted for 69% of total R&D expenditures.

Federal and institutional funds combined accounted for approximately 88% of total ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system R&D expenditures.

The top federal sponsors of ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system R&D in FY24 were:

• National Science Foundation (NSF): $55.1 million
• Department of Defense (DoD): $39.6 million
• NASA: $28.2 million

NSF, DoD and NASA together accounted for approximately 45% of total ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system R&D expenditures.

National rankings and comparisons

ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF ranks in the top 15% among all universities in R&D expenditures and No. 86 among public universities.

ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF ranks No. 17 nationally in NASA-sponsored R&D and No. 43 in NSF-sponsored R&D.

In geosciences R&D, ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF ranks fifth nationally and is one of two institutions in the country that ranks in the top 15 in key geosciences disciplines.

ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å accounts for approximately 99% of all academic R&D expenditures reported in Alaska. The ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å system conducts more research than all universities combined in Vermont, Maine, Idaho, Wyoming and South Dakota.