K-State surges in national research rankings

Kansas State University drives groundbreaking research that addresses the most pressing issues facing Kansans and global communities, and the university's research prowess has been recognized in the latest federal research rankings.

K-State climbed 14 spots to rank nationally No. 121 — No. 77 among public institutions — with $264.9 million in research and development expenditures for fiscal year 2024. This is a 21.5% jump from the prior year, which was nearly three times the national average growth rate among research universities.

The results come from the National Science Foundation's Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, survey, an annual census of research and development spending at more than 900 U.S. colleges and universities that serves as the primary federal benchmark for academic research activity. Nationally, higher education research and development expenditures grew about 8% in fiscal year 2024.

"These numbers reflect the dedication and ingenuity of our faculty, researchers, and students," said Hans Coetzee, vice president for research. "As the first operational land-grant, K-State was built to solve the problems that matter most to Kansans and to the world, and this growth in research spending is a measure of that commitment in action."

Growing research expenditures and momentum

The HERD survey ranks universities based on what they actually spend on research, not just what they're awarded. That distinction matters. Translating grant funding into real expenditures requires people, facilities and the institutional momentum to execute large, complex research projects.

"A 14-place climb within a single year—particularly when the broader sector expanded at a much slower rate—demonstrates a significant expansion in K-State's research capacity,” Coetzee said.

K-State's prior HERD rankings tell that story over time. The university ranked No. 114 in fiscal year 2020, dipped to No. 135 in fiscal year 2023 and has now rebounded to No. 121 — the growing momentum of recent years a sign that investments in faculty and infrastructure are paying off.

World-class research, solutions that matter to Kansans

K-State remains one of the state's leading research engines, with research expenditure growth that significantly outpaces most universities in its Carnegie classification. K-State's HERD-reported expenditures place it among the top institutions in the Great Plains region, contributing research-based solutions in food, agriculture, biosecurity, engineering, education and the humanities.

As a public land-grant university, K-State leverages its HERD-confirmed research strength to address issues that matter to Kansans, from agricultural resilience and water to health, education and economic development. The HERD rankings provide external validation that K-State operates at a scale comparable to many peer and aspirational institutions, while maintaining a strong focus on service to the state.

K-State's placement among the top public research universities in the HERD survey supports its key goals related to innovation, workforce development and statewide partnerships. It also reinforces that research at K-State is nationally competitive and central to the university's mission.

Building on a land-grant foundation

K-State's research strengths are deeply tied to its land-grant identity, and the numbers in the HERD survey reflect that.

The university's College of Veterinary Medicine, one of only 33 in the country, has long anchored K-State's national profile in animal health, food safety and biosecurity research. That work has only grown in scale and visibility since the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility opened in Manhattan — a $1.25 billion Department of Homeland Security research facility that K-State helped bring to Kansas and continues to partner with closely.

The colleges of Agriculture and Engineering have been consistent contributors as well, with faculty-led work across grain science, plant pathology, nuclear engineering and water systems drawing federal investment year after year.

With $264.9 million in fiscal year 2024 expenditures, K-State is closing in on its goal of $300 million — a goal set as part of the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan. Getting there will depend on the same things that drove this year's gains: competitive faculty, strong federal partnerships and continued investment in the research infrastructure that makes K-State distinctive among land-grant universities.

“This achievement speaks to the spirit of discovery that defines Kansas State University,” said Richard Linton, university president. “Every day, our faculty, staff and students pursue research that matters — work that strengthens Kansas and reaches far beyond it. Their dedication is fueling remarkable momentum as we grow our research enterprise toward $300 million annually and continue building a future shaped by innovation, integrity and shared purpose.”

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