Texas A&M is the No. 1 research university in Texas, top 25 nationally

Dr. Costas Georghiades, the university’s interim vice president for research said the HERD survey confirms the breadth and depth of Texas A&M’s research enterprise and the sustained commitment of our faculty and research teams.

“As a land-, sea- and space-grant institution, our researchers address challenges from fundamental discovery to real-world solutions that benefit communities in Texas and around the world,” Georghiades said. “These rankings underscore the trust placed in our researchers by federal agencies, Texas government, industry partners and sponsors, and they speak to the momentum we are building through strategic investment, collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence.”

This level of investment reflects Texas A&M’s capacity to shape industries, advance discovery, and deliver solutions that matter in the real world.

The research engine of Texas

In fiscal year 2024, Texas A&M’s $1.39 billion in research expenditure accounted for nearly 18% of all research spending at Texas public universities, which together tallied nearly $7.75 billion dollars.

Put simply, nearly one out of every five research dollars invested in Texas public universities is entrusted to Texas A&M. 

The impact of Texas A&M’s research spending resonates across disciplines, sparking breakthrough discoveries that make a real-world difference.

Examples include:

• Defense and next-generation materials: Sponsored by the United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and in collaboration with ATSP Innovations, researchers at Texas A&M University have discovered new properties of an ultra-durable, recyclable ‘smart plastic’ for aerospace and defense applications.
• Food supply: By GPS-tracking cattle and integrating that real-world data into computer models, researchers uncovered “refugia” — hidden areas where ticks persist — and developed new “location intelligence” tools to guide smarter eradication strategies. The research is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
• Dark matter: Advanced quantum detectors designed at Texas A&M are reinventing the search for dark matter, part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
• Dementia and women’s health: Groundbreaking research sheds light on why women are disproportionately affected by dementia, and points to promising new avenues in personalized care.
• Cancer studies: New research reveals that disrupting our internal body clock weakens immune defenses and fuels aggressive cancer — while pointing to a promising new treatment.
• AI and human interactions: A breakthrough in artificial intelligence can accurately predict pedestrian behavior, redefining autonomous vehicle safety, traffic systems and human-AI interactions.

This concentration of investment places Texas A&M No. 1 statewide in total R&D expenditure, underscoring its critical role in the state’s research enterprise.

A national research powerhouse

At the heart of Texas A&M’s research enterprise is its engineering identity, ranking 3rd nationally in total engineering expenditures, and No.1 in civil engineering research spending.

Beyond engineering, the university ranks 4th in non-medical school research expenditure — including agriculture, engineering, physical sciences, computing, and other applied disciplines — commanding $1.34 billion dollars for cutting-edge breakthroughs and technologies.

Texas A&M’s scale as a research engine comes into sharp focus with its national R&D expenditure rankings: 13th among all public universities and 22nd among all higher education institutions nationwide.

A trusted mission partner in national security

Texas A&M’s research influence extends far beyond academia.

Ranked 16th nationally in Department of War-funded research, Texas A&M is a critical partner in advancing the safety, competitiveness and technological leadership of the United States.

That same mission-driven leadership extends across federal priorities, with the NSF ranking Texas A&M 2nd nationally in research funded by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA).

These federal partnerships fuel a research portfolio across the full spectrum of the nation’s future needs.

From ultrafast hypersonic vehicles and next-generation materials to quantum innovations, space exploration, energy sustainability and human performance, Texas A&M’s federally sponsored research delivers solutions that meet today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s demands.

Leadership in all frontiers

While its vast R&D footprint lies primarily in its science and engineering portfolio, Texas A&M also strategically accelerates research in non-science and engineering fields, ranking 24th nationwide.

This breadth showcases the university’s commitment to a diverse, multidisciplinary, and forward-looking research portfolio, spanning law, business, education, the humanities and other critical non-STEM fields.

Building the future through world-class, world-relevant applications

Complementing the federal NSF HERD rankings, Washington Monthly magazine ranked Texas A&M No. 16 nationally, No. 8 among all public universities, No. 1 in Texas and the highest-ranked school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Additionally, the university placed No. 5 in the nation in number of science and engineering Ph.D.s awarded.

Washington Monthly editors examined 139 institutions that “each spend at least $100 million annually on research based on four equally weighted indicators: total research spending, science and engineering Ph.D.s awarded, faculty receiving major national awards and the share of faculty elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.”

Texas A&M doesn’t simply contribute to research progress — it leads it, fueling discovery and mission-driven innovation that serves as a force for good across the nation and around the world.

Research leadership is the heartbeat of the Texas A&M student-faculty ecosystem, where discovery is a daily pursuit and breakthroughs are translated into real-world impact, today and for generations to come.