UTEP Achieves Record $162.3 Million in Research Expenditures
EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 27, 2026) – The University of Texas at El Paso has set a new institutional record for annual research expenditures, reporting $162.3 million for fiscal year 2025. The milestone represents a multimillion-dollar increase over the previous year’s record of $158 million and continues UTEP’s upward trajectory in research productivity.
The figures were submitted as part of the National Science Foundation’s annual Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, also known as the HERD Survey.
“When it comes to research, UTEP is in the top 5% of universities in America, and we have gotten even stronger,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We will continue to advance discovery and its application.”
The three areas of the University’s research portfolio that saw the highest levels of expenditures this past fiscal year are advanced manufacturing, materials and industrial systems; artificial intelligence, cyber and data systems engineering; and biomedical health sciences. Within these categories, UTEP researchers conduct discipline‑leading work in energy and environmental systems, aerospace and defense manufacturing, additive manufacturing, digital engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning, neuroscience and immunology.
Federal agencies provided $73 million of the total research expenditures for FY 2025. The National Science Foundation led federal support with $22 million, followed by the Department of Health and Human Services at $17 million, the Department of Defense at $16 million and the Department of Energy at $8 million. Additional funding came from NASA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal sources.
Ahmad Itani, Ph.D., UTEP’s vice president for research, emphasized the broader impact of this achievement. “Reaching $162.3 million in research expenditures validates our strategic focus on research areas where UTEP can make unique contributions,” Itani said. “Our growth in research capacity creates opportunities for students, drives economic development and positions UTEP as a leader in addressing complex societal challenges.”
UTEP’s research growth has been particularly strong in recent years, with expenditures increasing by more than $70 million since fiscal year 2018.
The University’s expanding research enterprise also plays a critical role in student training, workforce development and economic growth in the Paso del Norte region and beyond.
Last Updated on January 27, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 27, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
