Virginia Tech rises in national research rankings, driven by strength in engineering and computing
A graduate student works among the robotic arms of the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Lab
Virginia Tech climbed in national research rankings in the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, reflecting sustained growth in externally funded research and continued leadership in engineering, computing, and natural resources.
Released in December 2025 for research activity from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, Virginia Tech ranked No. 56 among all U.S. institutions for total research expenditures, up one spot from the previous year. Research expenditures represent institutional and externally sponsored investments supporting research and development activities. The university rose three places in external research funding, moving from No. 62 to No. 59, and improved its federal research funding ranking from No. 62 to No. 61.
Among public universities, the university ranked No. 37 nationally for total research expenditures, up from No. 38, and No. 39 for external funding, an increase from No. 40. Its federal funding ranking among public institutions held steady at No. 39.
“These results underscore the momentum of Virginia Tech’s research enterprise and the impact our faculty, students, and partners are having across critical areas of national and global importance,” said Dan Sui, senior vice president for research and innovation. “Our continued rise in externally funded research reflects both the quality of our scholarship and the trust that federal agencies, industry, and sponsors place in Virginia Tech to deliver solutions that matter.”
Virginia Tech’s strength was evident in several broad and detailed fields of study where the university ranked among the top 15 institutions nationwide.
- No. 13 in computer and information sciences, up from No. 21 in FY23, marking one of the largest year-over-year gains
- No. 13 in engineering, up from No. 14 the previous year
At the discipline level, Virginia Tech maintained or improved top-tier national standings in multiple areas.
- No. 4 in industrial and manufacturing engineering
- No. 5 in civil engineering, up from No. 9 the previous year
- No. 6 in natural resources and conservation
- No. 9 in electrical, electronic, and communications engineering
- No. 13 in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering
During the FY24 year, Virginia Tech researchers advanced work in resilient infrastructure, next-generation computing, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable management of natural resources — areas that align closely with federal priorities and industry needs. These efforts included multidisciplinary collaborations addressing environment resilience, secure and intelligent systems, and the future of mobility and aerospace technologies.
“The consistency and growth we are seeing across these fields reflect long-term investments in people, facilities, and partnerships,” Sui said. “As we look ahead, we remain focused on expanding our research capacity while translating discovery into real-world impact for Virginia, the nation, and the world.”
The National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey is the primary source of information on research and development expenditures at U.S. colleges and universities and is widely used as a benchmark for institutional research performance.
