University of Maryland Named Top 10 Research Institution
For Immediate Release: January 7, 2026
Contact: alikowski@umaryland.edu
University of Maryland Named Top 10 Public Institution in National Science Foundation’s Research Spending Ranking
Annual Survey Puts University Research at No. 14 Overall, No. 9 Among Public Institutions
Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland’s expanding investment in high-impact research — work that improves lives in communities across the state, nation, and world — helped propel it to No. 14 among all U.S. institutions and No. 9 among public institutions in the National Science Foundation’s latest Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey, up from No. 18 overall and No. 11 among public institutions the previous year.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) are linked as a single research enterprise in the HERD survey, the most widely recognized national benchmark for sponsored research activity, which ranked research and development spending at U.S. institutions in fiscal year 2024. This represents one of the highest rankings to date for our R1 (Carnegie Classification) research enterprise and record combined research expenditures exceeding $1.5 billion — an increase of more than $154 million from fiscal year 2023.
“The growth of our research enterprise reflects the growing impact of our work together,” said Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, president of UMB. “Our researchers do more than advance knowledge in their fields; they work tirelessly to ensure that the discoveries they make improve the health and well-being of people world-wide. In this way, our ranking is much more than scorecard, it is a testament to the critical importance of public higher education and research institutions here in Maryland.”
“This milestone reflects the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to improving lives through research conducted at Maryland's two premier public universities,” said Darryll J. Pines, PhD, MS, president of UMCP. “By uniting College Park’s leadership in engineering, science and technology with Baltimore’s strengths in medicine, health and human services, we are accelerating the translation of discovery into patient care and community benefit. Our combined success in the HERD rankings affirms that when we work as one enterprise, we deliver outcomes that truly matter.”
The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership Act of 2016 strengthened and formalized the structured relationship between UMB and UMCP under the aegis of University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State. MPower-sponsored joint research centers include a wide array of scientific collaboration, such as the Maryland Blended Reality Center, the Institute for Health Computing, and the Center for Health-Related Informatics and BioImaging.
The partnership between UMCP and UMB was further strengthened in January 2025 with the launch of a transformative collaboration to tackle a broad spectrum of health challenges and advance medical innovation: the Edward and Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine. Located on the fourth floor of 4MLK, a new state-of-the-art facility in the University of Maryland BioPark in Baltimore, the center is designed to ensure that real-world clinical needs directly inform the development of new devices, diagnostics, and treatments — accelerating the pathway from research to patient care.
“The strength of our unified research enterprise allows us to work across boundaries and turn breakthroughs into real-world solutions,” said vice president for research Patrick O’Shea, PhD, MS. “Our continued growth is a testament to the talent of our faculty, the dedication of our students and staff, and the state’s strong commitment to research that delivers measurable benefits for Maryland and beyond.”
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About the University of Maryland, Baltimore
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland and is guided by a mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good through education, research, clinical care, and service.
UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $636 million in Fiscal Year 2025, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.46 million in research grants per year. Our 3,108 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 6,800 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of UMB’s organized research centers and institutes, visit umaryland.edu/research/umb-research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions.
About the University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMCP is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMCP is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMCP’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu.
