August 26th, 2024
Top 5 U.S. Colleges and Universities for Research
By Connor Martin · 9 min read
Why does choosing a college with good research programs matter?
According to one 2018 study, it matters because engaging in research makes you a better student, which often leads to higher grades. In particular, those going down the STEM route will find that research universities prepare them better, both for post-graduate degrees and their future careers. It’s likely for these reasons that 6,000 students take part in research projects organized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) annually, with many thousands more participating in non-NSF projects held internally.
Right now, you’re a student looking for a good research university. One that will offer a boost to your undergraduate education – and led by a knowledgeable faculty member or two – while setting you up for your future career. That’s where this list comes in – the five best research universities the U.S. has to offer.
#1 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Since 1861, MIT has been a top research university for any student who wishes to work in the applied sciences. And it has the credentials to back that claim – MIT has produced (or is affiliated with) 101 Nobel Prize laureates at the time of this writing, along with dozens of Rhodes Scholars and MacArthur Fellows.
It’s a science heavyweight. It’s also home to a university-based nuclear reactor – the MITR – which is a 6-megawatt reactor and the only one of its kind in any American university. That alone should convince you of MIT’s credentials as one of the top research universities, with that reactor allowing for studies in material sciences, nuclear fission engineering, and even the effects of radiation on biology.
Away from MITR, MIT has 30 research departments spread across one college and five schools, which collectively encompass dozens of programs that will see you regularly work alongside – and receive teaching from – major experts in the sciences.
#2 - University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Funding is the major draw for those considering UCLA as a potential research university – it receives over $1 billion in funding from private sponsors annually. Take the 2019-2020 fiscal year as an example, as it saw UCLA attract $1.427 billion, representing a 38% growth in funding since 2015.
A large portion of this funding comes from federal agencies – 60% of the 2019-2020 intake, for instance – and there are conditions applied. The funding has to be used for the purposes a sponsor outlines, meaning you can’t simply turn up, submit a project, and expect to receive a chunk of UCLA’s cash. Instead, prospective students are advised to check out UCLA’s ongoing research projects before applying so they can be sure the projects align with their areas of interest. That shouldn’t be too much of a problem, however, as the college has 6,000 active projects with each featuring mentors and faculty who can guide you when making a selection.
#3 - Johns Hopkins University
Though MIT is older, it’s Johns Hopkins that carries the distinction of being America’s first dedicated research university. That founding is reflected in its simple mission statement – “discovery.” Standout institutions include the Silvio O. Conte Center, which offers research opportunities in neuroscience and other medical research, as well as the Henry A. Rowland Center for Astronomy and Physics.
It also beats UCLA in terms of funding, at least for federal research. For instance, the National Institutes of Health provided its researchers with $842,956,584 in research grants and awards in 2023 alone – over $50 million more than its nearest competitor the University of California, San Francisco. That should clue you into the fact that this is a research university with a heavy medical school focus, though that area is far from the only one that Johns Hopkins can serve for the prospective undergraduate.
#4 - Texas A&M University
With the passing of the Hatch Act in 1887 came the creation of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station – an educational facility dedicated to the agricultural sciences. That station evolved into Texas A&M University, which operates AgriLife Research to continue the work that the college has been doing for over a century.
It’s obvious in which area this college excels when it comes to research universities, with farming being a key focus of AgriLife Research. The facility has 13 research centers spread across the state, in addition to 20 academic departments. Texas A&M also works alongside five state agencies, which may be a key reason why it won $240.2 million in competitive research grants in 2023 alone.
However, the biggest reasons to consider Texas A&M are its faculty and its royalty payouts. The university is home to over 500 doctoral scientists – ideal for students searching for a research mentor – and its alumnus received $10.8 million in research royalties in 2022 alone. If you’re a farming fiend, there are no better places in the U.S. to start your career.
#5 - Princeton University
Though it may have often been the butt of Sheldon Cooper’s jokes in “The Big Bang Theory,” the simple fact is that Princeton turns out extremely talented scientists every year. As of 2022, its alumni have won 24 Nobel Prizes, with the college being associated with several dozen more Nobel laureates, and its students continue to receive plenty of opportunities to engage in exciting research. That shouldn’t come as a surprise once you start digging into stats – Princeton has 1,100 faculty members who participate in research across 34 academic departments.
As for research areas, Princeton is perhaps best known for its engineering and applied sciences programs. However, it also runs programs in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. For instance, the latter research area covers centers such as the Office of Population Research, with the school also being home to the University Center for Human Values. It isn’t quite a “Jack of all trades” when it comes to research opportunities, but you’ll find more than the traditional STEM routes with Princeton.
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