Montana State University research and creative activity demonstrates impact on the state’s and the world’s pressing challenges through application of our discoveries in communities, industry, and organizations.

MSU Research Expenditures 2016-2026 (Graph) 

A line graph showing total research expenditures for FY 26 of $308,733,485 and osp research expenditures for FY 26 of $234,617,525

MSU Research Expenditures 2016-2026 (Data) 
Year
OSP Research Expenditures
Total Research Expenditures 
2016
$94,145,130
$112,073,000
2017
$104,567,529
$129,622,000
2018
$100,905,476
$125,129,000
2019
$112,991,204
$154,811,000
2020
$121,827,726
$166,285,000
2021
$139,774,047
$196,140,398
2022
$153,009,597
$200,819,805
2023
$181,315,069
$229,681,914
2024
$200,602,848
$257,920,284
2025
$229,310,267
$288,716,169
2026
$234,617,525
$308,733,485

FY26 Expenditures by Federal Agency (Graph) 

A chart showing breakdown of federal research dollars recieved from different angencies for FY26, NEA <1%, NASA 3%, NEH <1%, DOI 1%, NSF 12%, USDA 11%, DOD 50%, DOC 2%, DOHS 2%, DOE 2%, DOED 1%, USHHS 13%, other fed 1%, DOT 2%, and EPA <1%

FY26 Expenditures by Federal Agency (Data) 
Federal Agency Approximate percent of total Federal Expenditures
NEA <1%
NASA 3%
NEH <1%
DOI 1%
NSF 12%
USDA 11%
DOD 50%
DOC 2%
DOHS 1%
DOE 2%
DOED 1%
USHHS 13%
DOT 1%
EPA <1%
Other 1%

FY26 Funding Sources: 

Federal: 92%

State: 2%

Private: 6% 

FY26 RED Expenditures 

(includes Institutional Research Support)

Sponsored Program Expenditures: $234,617,525

Average IDC Rate Collected: 16.2%

IDCs Collected in FY26: $32,790,550

* IDCs = Indirect Costs (also known as F&As or Facilities and Administration Costs) 

FY26 RED Investments

(includes Institutional Research Support)

A chart showing break down of total FY26 Commitments $33,513,263, broken down to 3% for Internal Awards, 11% for faculty support, 23% for Colleges, Units, Centers, and Institutes, 12% for Core Facilities, 5% for research admins and operations, 39% for research infrastructure, 6% for research security and compliance.

What's in the Buckets?

Internal Awards (3%)

$994,6311

Research Collaborative Grants, Research Expansion Funds Grants, Scholarship & Creativity Grants, Proposal Enhancement Grant, Fulbright Awards, & Founders Day Awards

Faculty Support (11%)

$3,801,420

Bridge Funding, Faculty Startup, IRD Program, & Other Research Support

Colleges, Units, Centers & Institutes (23%) 

$7,863,394

Colleges & Other Research Units, Centers & Institutes, Institutional Match, & Other Program Support

Core Facilities (12%) 

$3,916,535 

Core Facilities, Core Facilities Grants, Core Facilities Operations

Research Administration & Operations (5%) 

$1,834,749 

Legislative Audit, Memberships Dues, Fees, & Research Operations

Research Infrastructure & Facilities (39%) 

$13,157,809

Building Loans, Campus Leases, Campus O&M, Off-campus Leases, Off-campus O&M, Renovation, & Equipment

Research Security, Integrity & Compliance (6%)

$1,994,725

Research Security, Research Integrity & Compliance 

FY26 State Allocations for State-Funded Personnel

A chart showing break down of total FY26 state allocations $3,848,256, broken down to 22% for research admin and operations, 15% for research integrity and compliance admin, 5% for Animal resource center admin, 4% for research development, 43% for sponsored programs, 11% for undergrad scholars

What's in the Buckets?

Research & Economic Development Administration & Operations (22%) 

$854,212  

Research & Economic Development Administration 

Research Integrity & Compliance Administration (15%) 

$575,712 

Research Integrity & Compliance Administration

Animal Resource Center Administration (5%) 

$195,547

Animal Resource Center Administration

Research Development Administration (4%) 

$154,767

Research Development Administration

Sponsored Programs Administration (43%) 

$1,637,735

Sponsored Programs Administration

Undergrad Scholars Administration & Operations (11%) 

$430,283

Undergrad Scholars Administration