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Facts and Figures

The University of Utah is a top-tier research institution powering discovery across disciplines and industries. Our research enterprise drives economic growth, shapes national policy, and delivers real-world solutions. These numbers reflect a growing ecosystem of innovation, collaboration, and impact, on campus, across Utah, and around the world.

Fueling Research
Through Investment

Behind every research milestone at the University of Utah is an investment; in people, ideas, and the infrastructure that makes discovery possible. Research funding is more than a number; it’s a commitment to future breakthroughs, workforce development, commercialization and societal impact.

Whether it supports a lab exploring the origins of the universe, a team building new medical devices, or a historian preserving cultural heritage, each award contributes to a shared mission: advancing knowledge that improves lives.

Annual Snapshot

Each year, thousands of research awards fuel a broad spectrum of disciplines, reflecting the expansive scale and impact of the University’s research enterprise.

Data Source: University of Utah Office of Sponsored Projects
Numbers from fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026).

 

Total Research Funding Awards

Distinct Number of Awards

Distinct Number of Principal Investigators (PIs)

Average Dollar Amount per Award

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Research by the Numbers

The University of Utah has demonstrated consistent growth in research funding, reflecting increasing confidence from sponsors.

Research Expenditures

$680M

Expenditures represent the actual dollars spent to carry out research: hiring staff, supporting students, running labs, and maintaining facilities. It’s how awarded funding translates into discovery in action.

Numbers from fiscal year 2026

U of U Research
Boosts the Economy & Drives Economic Growth

Creates Jobs
12,760 Employees
$584 Million
In earnings
$805 Million
generated GDP
$1.6 Billion
Output
Vendor & Subaward Expenditures
Vendor & Subaward Expenditures
Federal and Non-Federal Research Awards FY25
University of Utah by Utah County
University of Utah by Utah County
FY24

Research Achievements
and Recognitions

The University of Utah’s research community spans science, engineering, health, arts, humanities, and beyond. Our achievements reflect the collective contributions of scholars, creators, and innovators who expand knowledge, challenge convention, and shape culture and society. From local partnerships to global recognition, the U is a place where ideas take root—and make a difference.

Impact of Research

Research at the University of Utah shapes the state’s economy, supports thousands of jobs, and drives innovation that reaches far beyond campus. It’s not just about discovery, it’s about building a stronger, more resilient future for Utah and the world.

  • Institutional Reach

    1150+
    Active research faculty
    962,000+
    Square feet of research space
    30+ Core facilities
    Supporting interdisciplinary discovery in genomics, imaging, nanofab, computing and more

  • National & Statewide Recognition

    Top 30
    Public Research University (NSF HERD)
    #1 in U.S.
    for innovation capacity (Milken Institute)
    132,000+
    Utah jobs supported by higher education (2024)
    $10B+
    annual economic impact from Utah’s research institutions

  • Innovation & Commercialization

    48
    Patents issued
    43
    Licenses
    15
    Start up companies
    467
    Invention disclosures

    * Numbers from fiscal year 2026

Research fuels more than discovery, it supports livelihoods, drives investment, and builds the kind of future we all want to live in.

Dr. Erin Rothwell, Senior Vice President for Research

Download Here

View the breakdown of our research funding, including federal support.

Download Here

See the details of the University of Utah Research Economic Impact.

Download Here

See the details of the University of Utah Economic Activity of Research FY25.