UT Research by the Numbers
The discoveries and achievements of UT’s talented faculty, staff, and students are taking UT to the next level.
At a glance
$386.95M
total research expenditures
(NSF HERD FY 2024)
$180.01M
federal research expenditures
(NSF HERD FY 2024)
8
members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
(FY 2026)
No. 7
in the nation for US Department of Energy Funding
(NSF HERD FY 2024)
No. 9
in the nation for National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships
(FY 2025)
No. 16
in the nation among public universities without a medical school
(NSF HERD FY 2024)
No. 14
in the nation among public universities for innovation
(US News & World Report 2026)
95
UT Extension programs in all 95 Tennessee counties
10
world-class core facilities
3
of the top 10 graduate programs in the nation
(US News & World Report 2026)
IEPU
APLU designation as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University
(since 2020)
Carnegie
Classification for Community Engagement
(since 2015)
Economic impact
$488.8M
capital raised by UT-affiliated start-ups
(FY 2025)
$8.62M
industry-sponsored research expenditures
(NSF HERD FY 2024)
5
innovation gateways advancing Tennessee’s economic growth
147
US patents granted
(FY 2022-2026)
139
invention disclosures filed
(FY 2026)
186
start-ups created and supported in UT programs
(FY 2026)
29
licenses and options executed
(FY 2026)
11
members of the National Academy of Inventors
(FY 2026)
Education and workforce development
2,776
graduate students enrolled in UT doctoral programs (FY 2026)
4,331
undergraduate and graduate students participating in entrepreneurship courses (FY 2026)
No. 2
nuclear engineering graduate program in the nation (US News & World Report 2026)
No. 7
master of fine arts program in the nation (US News & World Report 2026)
No. 2
supply chain graduate program in the nation (US News & World Report 2026)
Faculty excellence
5
members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (FY 2026)
10
members of the American Academy of Nursing (FY 2026)
5
members of the National Academy of Engineering (FY 2026)
148
Fulbright US Scholars (FY 2026)
107
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows (FY 2026)
97
National Science Foundation CAREER Awards (FY 2026)
43
faculty hires in seven transdisciplinary cluster initiatives
Top 10
in the US for National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships (since 2004)
9
Rhodes Scholars
6
Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers (FY 2026)
1
Turing Award
US national laboratory partnerships
153
US national laboratory scientists with joint appointments at UT
(FY 2026)
30
UT faculty with joint appointments in national laboratories
(FY 2026)
44
joint patents and licenses with national laboratory researchers
(FY 2026)
50
new researchers to be hired by 2030 for convergent research initiatives with ORNL
Accelerate the momentum
Industry, government, and community organizations have experienced the power of collaborating with a leading land-grant research university.