Iowa State research expenditures reached new heights in FY24

Iowa State University established a new record for research expenditures of $462.35 million in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey results for the 2024 fiscal year released in late December 2025. The amount surpassed the institution’s previous all-time high of $420.82 million—set in FY23—by $41.53 million, or 9.9%.

Since FY21, Iowa State has realized an increase in research expenditures of more than $100 million, or 28%, driven by growth in growth in both federally sponsored and private-sector research support. In FY 24, Iowa State ranked eighth among 11 Regents peer institutions and 78^th out of 681 U.S. colleges and universities—the same ranking as FY23. Iowa State ranks 10^th among public universities without human medical schools that report their research expenditures.

NSF collects HERD data each winter then compiles and reports the results in November and December the following fiscal year.

“Our Iowa State Research enterprise has been intentional at broadening our engagement with research partners to help us achieve our University Strategic Plan aspirations of being the university that ‘creates opportunities and forges new frontiers,’ and being a ‘trusted partner for proactive and innovative solutions,’ ” said Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research.

During the first three years of the 2022-2031 Strategic Plan, the Office of the Vice President of Research (OVPR) identified targeted investment opportunities to initiate new research collaboration opportunities, including the Research and Innovation Roundtables (RIR). These RIR workshops have brought together researchers from all seven colleges – in addition to investigators from Ames National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Animal Disease Center, the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, and the Plant Introduction Center as well as the University of Iowa and collaborators in Australia—to build research teams to tackle big societal challenges. Seed grants in topics from animal infectious diseases to innovative energy solutions to community vitality became funding multipliers, bringing in more than 10:1 in dollars invested so far.

“Investing in people—the talent we have at Iowa State and beyond—creates the foundation we have in our research enterprise,” Dorhout said.  “Given that talent, and some initial funding to explore new ideas, enables our researchers to be more competitive for external funding.” 

Research growth has also leveraged the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship focus.  Nearly $40 million in research came from industry partners and private foundations. Iowa State continues to be counted among the world’s Top 100 Worldwide Universities granted patents by the National Academy of Inventors—an achievement that mirrors the institution’s innovative spirit.

Iowa State is an Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Innovation and Economic Prosperity Program Designee and IEP Award Winner for its many impactful programs and continues to be a trusted partner for industries and communities, alike.