The University of Central Florida is one of the top 50 public research universities in the nation, according to the recently released  Top American Research Universities Annual Report.

UCF ranked in the 26-50 block based on nine criteria, according the 2017 report, from the Center for Measuring University Performance, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Others in the same grouping included Clemson University and George Mason University. Ohio State University ranked first, closely followed by University of California at Berkley and several of its sister campuses.

“Our faculty are among the best in the nation, conducting cutting edge research, which is making a positive impact in our community and contributing to our economy,” says Elizabeth Klonoff, UCF’s vice president for research and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. “The rankings are a nice public recognition of something we’ve known for a long time. Our faculty and students are innovative thinkers pushing the boundaries of our understanding.”

The report considered the amount of annual giving, number of National Academy Members, doctorates granted, postdoctoral appointees, student SAT scores and Faculty Awards such as Fulbright Scholars and NSF Career Awards. UCF faculty received eight such awards during the ranking period.

The Center for Measuring University Performance only included institutions that had at least $40 million in federal research funding. A total of 148 public and private institutions met the criteria. Schools made the 26-50 grouping if they ranked on any one (or more) of the nine metrics. Private universities were also ranked. Columbia University came in first, followed by Harvard and MIT.

UCF is an emerging preeminent university with a Carnegie designation of very high research activity. In 2018, UCF received $183 million in research funding.

UCF conducts basic and applied science research in a variety of areas including interdisciplinary teams that are making discoveries in space research, artificial intelligence, sustainability, big data and lasers. UCF’s faculty and students are tackling some of today’s toughest scientific and societal challenges, coming up with innovation solutions that strengthen and diversify the local and state economy.