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In its recently released report, the center ranks 163 institutions — 115 public and 48 private — that had at least $40 million in federal research expenditures in fiscal year 2013.
Those that fall within the top 25 on at least one of nine measures — total research, federal research, endowment assets, annual giving, National Academy members, faculty awards, doctorates granted, postdoctoral appointees and SAT scores — are deemed Top American Research Universities.
Among public institutions, Pitt ranked in the top 25 in seven of the nine measures (total research, federal research, endowment assets, National Academy members, faculty awards, doctorates granted and postdoctoral appointees) and ranked in the top 50 in two other measures: annual giving and SAT scores.
| Total Research | 8 |
|---|---|
| Federal Research | 5 |
| Endowment Assets | 7 |
| National Academy Members | 16 |
| Faculty Awards | 9 |
| Doctorates Granted | 20 |
| Postdoctoral Appointees | 10 |
| Annual Giving | 36 |
| SAT Scores | 26 |
Among all institutions, Pitt ranked in the top 25 in five measures: total research, federal research, endowment assets, faculty awards and postdoctoral appointees; and ranked in the top 50 in two other measures: the number of National Academy members and number of doctorates granted.
In naming the top research universities, the authors of the report noted that “research performance requires longterm, sustained investment by institutions and their many sponsors from public funds, private donations, student tuition, endowment earnings and other sources of revenue. Not only do high quality research institutions require strong financial support, they also require rigorous processes to identify the best faculty and staff, the best students, and support their performance within a highly competitive national and international context.”
Nationally, Pitt ranked No. 12 in total research, No. 9 in federal research, No. 25 in endowment assets, No. 20 in faculty awards and No. 17 in postdoctoral appointees and ranked No. 35 in National Academy members and No. 30 in the number of doctorates granted. Pitt ranked outside the top 50 in two measures, ranking No. 67 in annual giving and No. 118 in SAT scores.
The MUP Center, which resides at Arizona State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has published the annual rankings since 2000.