UNC Charlotte’s upward trajectory toward top-tier research university status is supported by a recent national report of research expenditures for U.S. colleges and universities.
In the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Charlotte moved into the top third of all U.S. colleges and universities for fiscal research expenditures.
“During the past decade, UNC Charlotte was among the fastest-growing universities in the nation, and with increased investment from federal and state sources, our research has flourished exponentially,” Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber said.
According to the report, Charlotte’s research expenditures have risen 87% since 2012. The University’s number of doctoral graduates has grown 62%, too, according to the NSF Earned Doctorate rankings.
Leading the University’s efforts is the College of Computing and Informatics, which, according to the recently released 2021 NSF HERD report, now ranks 39th in the U.S. for research expenditures in the area of computer and information sciences and second among North Carolina universities.
CCI Dean Bojan Cukic said the college has seen considerable growth in research funding during the past decade.
“Our faculty expertise in cybersecurity, bioinformatics and genomics, and artificial intelligence is attracting higher levels of federal funding,” he noted. “For the college, it aids in attracting new faculty in these areas of research excellence, and for students, it ensures they are receiving a high-quality education that will prepare them to excel in their professional careers or advanced studies.”
Charlotte is the No. 1 producer of computer science bachelor’s degrees in North Carolina, and the Queen City has become a top city for startups and a top 10 Tech Town, according to CompTIA. CCI is providing the talented, diverse tech workforce that will drive continued economic development for the region.
Through investment from the General Assembly’s Engineering a Smart and Secure Future for North Carolina, Charlotte will grow enrollments in computer science, data science and engineering by more than 2,000 students during the next five years. The University’s School of Data Science was the first of its kind in the Carolinas.
Read more about UNC Charlotte’s investment in three key focus areas: CIPHER, cybersecurity and AI.
Special state legislative funding for “Shaping What’s Next,” UNC Charlotte’s 10-year strategic plan, lays out a new vision as an emerging top-tier global research university to support the fast-growing Charlotte region.
“UNC Charlotte’s upward trajectory is a win-win for the region,” Gaber said. “As we have seen in cities across the U.S., top-tier public research universities drive innovation and supercharge businesses, helping to advance economic mobility in their regions.”
