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 2015-2025

A line graph showing MSU cumulative research expenditures from 2015-2025 broken down into total research and OSP research by year. For FY 2025 the OSP research to date totaled $229,310,267 and total research expenditures to date were $288,716,169.

FY25 Expenditures by Federal Agency

A pie chart showing expenditures based on US federal agency funding. It shows 47% of funds coming from USDOD, 16% from USHHS, 11% from NSF, 10% from USDA, 4% from NASA, 2% from USDOE, 2% from USDOHS, 2% USDOI, 1% from USDOC, 1% from USDOED, 1% from USDOT, 1% from USEPA, and 2% from other US federal agencies.

FY25 Funding Sources: 

Federal: 92%

State: 2%

Private: 6% 

FY25 RED Investments

(includes Institutional Research Support)

Sponsored Program Expenditures: $229,310,267

Average IDC Rate Collected: 17.3%

IDCs Collected in FY25: $33,834,769

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

A Sankey diagram showing the breakdown of total FY25 commitments totaling $34,689,668. 8% or $2,874,499 went to research administration & operations, 4% or $1,353,738 went to internal awards, 5% or $5,016,930 went to faculty support, 27% or $9,361,753 went to colleges, units, centers & institutes, 35% or $12,082,613 went to research infrastructure & facilities, 3% or $1,197,867 went to research security, integrity & compliance, 8% or $2,802,267 went to core facilities.

What's in the Buckets?

Research Administration & Operations (8%) 

$2,874,499 

Legislative Audit, Memberships Dues, Fees, & Research Operations

Internal Awards (4%)

$1,353,738 

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

Faculty Support (15%)

$5,016,930 

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

Colleges, Units, Centers & Institutes (27%) 

$9,361,753 

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

Research Infrastructure & Facilities (35%) 

$12,082,613 

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

Research Security, Integrity & Compliance (3%)

$1,197,867 

Research Security, Research Integrity & Compliance 

Core Facilities (8%) 

$2,802,267 

Core Facilities, Core Facilities Grants, Core Facilities Operations

State Allocations for State-Funded Personnel

A Sankey diagram showing the breakdown of total FY25 state allocations totaling $3,777,387. 17% or $651,007 went to research & economic development administration and operations, 15% or $561,124 went to research integrity and compliance administration, 9% or $338,726 went to research development administration, 43% or $1,610,553 went to sponsored programs administration, 11% or $425,585 went to undergrad scholars administration and operations, 5% or $190,391 went to animal resource center administrations.