2013’s Top 20 HBCU Rankings By Total R&D Expenditures

HBCUs appear to have taken a step back in the research field according to the latest National Science Foundation data. In 2012, research expenditures for the top 20 HBCUs combined for $455.1 million, while 2013 combines for $450.7 million. This represents a one percent drop year over year. The top 20 HWCU research institutions saw an almost twenty three percent increase over the same period.

• The top ranked HBCU is Florida A&M University at 197 and the twentieth ranked Virginia State University is listed at 327 in America’s college research landscape.
• MEAC leads the way with six schools versus the SWAC with four.
• Division II/III schools also comprise four schools on the list.
• Overall, the 1890 HBCUs are fifty percent of the list highlighting agriculture’s importance role in HBCU research.

1. Florida A&M University – $51,149,000
2. Howard University – $42,789,000
3. Morehouse School of Medicine – $36,638,000
4. Jackson State University – $36,264,000
5. North Carolina A&T State University – $33,994,000
6. Alabama A&M University – $32,937,000
7. Meharry Medical College – $22,532,000
8. Tuskegee University – $21,150,000
9. University of Virgin Islands – $20,041,000
10. Charles Drew University – $18,547,000
11. Delaware State University – $17,295,000
12. Fisk University – $16,423,000
13. Tennessee State University – $16,177,000
14. Morgan State University – $15,475,000
15. Prairie View A&M University – $13,198,000
16. South Carolina State University – $13,159,000
17. Hampton University – $12,461,000
18. Alcorn State University – $11,315,000
19. Morehouse College – $9,581,000
20. Virginia State University – $9,535,000

TOP 20 COMBINED TOTAL: $450.7 million ($455.1 million)

Additional Notes

The HWCU-HBCU gap for research among top 20 research institutions is 50:1

Top 20 HWCUs Combined: $22.5 billion ($18.3 billion)

Top 20 Average HWCU – $1.1 billion ($910 million) vs. Top 20 Average HBCU – $22.5 million ($23 million)

Top 20 Median HWCUs – $969.8 million vs. Top 20 Median HBCU – $17.9 million

Source: National Science Foundation