Research expenditures by university in District of Columbia, FY2024

8 institutions in District of Columbia reported to the NSF HERD survey in FY2024, and together they spent $1.0 billion, 0.9% of the US total. George Washington University, The leads at $381.6 million — #90 nationally, ahead of Georgetown University at $376.6 million. 7 spent more than in FY2023 and 1 spent less. The list runs down to National Defense University at $3.5 million; every name on it links to that institution's own page.

Institutions
8
FY2024 R&D
$1.0 billion
Share of the US total
0.9%

Universities in District of Columbia ranked, FY2024

The 8 institutions in District of Columbia ranked by total research and development expenditures, NSF HERD FY2024.
In District of ColumbiaInstitutionUS rankFY2024 R&DChange on FY2023Rank change
1George Washington University, The#90$381.6M+5.9%down 2
2Georgetown University#91$376.6M+11.7%up 3
3Howard University#178$101.8M+20.1%up 6
4American University#198$78.4M+3.0%down 4
5Catholic University of America, The#227$57.7M+14.4%up 2
6Gallaudet University#379$9.5M−3.7%down 14
7University of the District of Columbia#382$9.4M+18.1%up 6
8National Defense University#522$3.5M+38.7%up 29
All 8$1.0B

Rank is a competition rank: two institutions that spent the same share a rank and the next one is skipped. Figures are NSF's own, as revised in the FY2024 release, and are shown to one decimal. How these numbers are built.

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Data: NSF HERD FY2024, built from NSF's published tables on September 8, 2026. Page updated September 13, 2026.

Data: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation, Higher Education Research and Development Survey, FY2024.

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