Georgia Southern University has reported a new record for its research activity, marking a new milestone in its growth as a nationally designated research university and the home for public impact, real-world research. 

According to the University’s latest annual report submitted to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, research expenditures surged to more than $40 million during fiscal year 2023, a notable increase from the previous year’s $36.2 million.

“This record-breaking achievement underscores our continued progress on our path to research excellence and our commitment to bolster public impact research within the region,” said Christopher Curtis, Ph.D., interim vice president for research and economic development at Georgia Southern. 

Georgia Southern is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research-Doctoral University with high research activity (R2), making it one of only 277 research universities in the country and one of nine in Georgia. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the primary source of data concerning research and development expenditures at the more than 4,000 colleges and universities across the U.S. Its annual HERD Survey details the amount of money spent on research across the nation by subject area and the diverse array of funding sources to include the federal government, state and local governments, as well as businesses and private organizations. 

In addition to setting a new benchmark for total research activity, Georgia Southern also increased its research in dollars received through highly competitive federally-funded grants by more than 10 percent. The steady increase in research expenditures underscores the university’s pivotal role in driving cutting-edge research and innovation within the region.