Over half of all research activity conducted in the United States takes place at research universities. These hubs of academic discovery are credited with groundbreaking research including life-saving drugs, medical treatments, and vaccines as well as the latest and greatest advancements in engineering and technology.
From a student's perspective, graduate research institutes provide opportunities for hands-on learning, fellowships, and even prestige. Thus, prospective grad students with dreams of becoming leaders in their respective fields would be wise to identify the schools and research institutes known for their high research activity and expenditures, cutting-edge facilities and resources, and innovative approaches to collaborative study. To help with this discovery process, our team of editors has identified the very best institutes at the top research universities around the country. The initial pool of research universities is drawn from universities with a Carnegie classification of R1: Research Universities (Highest research activity).
Rating and Ranking Methodology
University R&D ExpendituresOver $2 million – 3 points
Over $1 million – 2 points
Over $500,000 – 1 point
National Level – 2 points
Regional Level – 1 point
Platinum – 3 points
Gold – 2 points
Silver – 1 point
Interdisciplinary Approach – 1 point
MGP (Majority Graduate/Professional) Enrollment – 1 point
RU/VH (Very High Research Activity) – 1 point
"Wow" Factor –1 point awarded for each feature that "wowed" us
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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
Best Graduate Research Institutes
The research institutes that we present below are exceptional in that they receive support and funding from the most active graduate research universities in the country. These are institutions with the most updated facilities and interdisciplinary programs in the nation.
We have applied the rating and ranking methodology above and listed them here in descending order. In the case of a tie, we awarded the higher ranking to the most affordable school affiliated with the research institute. Please note that the dollar amounts listed for R&D expenditures represent thousands of dollars. For example, an expenditure listed as $200,000 actually indicates a figure of $200 million.
