For the first time, Wichita State University has entered the top 10 in the country in engineering research and development (R&D) expenditures, according to data announced this week by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development Survey.

Wichita State is also ranked No. 1 for aerospace engineering R&D expenditures for the first time in its history.

For fiscal year 2023, Wichita State’s total of $327 million from all funding sources for aerospace ranks ahead of Georgia Institute of Technology ($294 million), Utah State University ($271 million), Johns Hopkins University ($196 million) and the University of Colorado ($90 million).

A year ago, Wichita State ranked third with $219.7 million.

These rankings put Wichita State among other prestigious engineering universities such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, Purdue and Stanford.

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• Access to top faculty: Renowned programs such as WSU’s engineering program attract leading faculty and researchers, meaning students learn from the very best.
• Cutting-edge facilities and resources: Our state-of-the-art labs and technology prepare students for the real world.
• Industry connections: High-ranking programs like Wichita State have strong ties to industry leaders, growing WSU’s already robust applied learning program and leading to more job opportunities for students.
• Prestige and recognition: These rankings directly reflect WSU’s reputation for excellence, enhancing the value of a WSU degree.

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NSF’s latest data ranks U.S. universities in various categories, including R&D spending broken down by subfield and funding source.

For fiscal year 2023, Wichita State moved up five places to No. 8 on the list of top universities in total engineering and research and development expenditures of $336 million. For fiscal year 2022, Wichita State reported engineering R&D total expenditures of $226 million, up from $157 million in 2021 and $134 million in 2020.

Wichita State ranks No. 2 on the list in industry-funded engineering R&D expenditures with $164 million and No. 6 in total industry-funded R&D expenditures ($171 million).

In recent years, the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State has increased its relationship with various divisions of the Department of Defense, which has led to $112 million in federally funded R&D expenditures, No. 14 on the list.

"This achievement is a historic milestone for Wichita State and a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and industry collaboration," said Wichita State President Rick Muma. "This accomplishment reflects the outstanding work of our research teams, who push the boundaries of technology and address the real-world challenges faced by our partners in the aerospace sector and beyond. Together, we are advancing our mission to drive economic growth through groundbreaking research and applied learning."

With increasing contracts and awards from industry and federal agencies, Wichita State expects to continue climbing the ranks in the NSF’s survey. The 2024 numbers will be compiled by NSF and published in late 2025.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research provides research, testing, certification and training for aviation and manufacturing technologies. Established in 1985, NIAR has a +$190 million annual budget; 1,200 employees and nearly 1.6 million square feet of laboratory and office space in six locations across the city of Wichita, the Air Capital of the World. NIAR laboratories include Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Coatings, Advanced Manufacturing, Ballistics/Impact Dynamics, Composites/Advanced Materials, Crash Dynamics, Digital Twin, Engineering Design/Modification, Environmental/ Electromagnetic Test, Full-Scale Structural Test, Nondestructive Test, Reverse Engineering, Robotics/Automation, Virtual Engineering, eXtended Reality and the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel.