RESEARCH
Research at Texas State
FY2025 was the strongest research year in the university’s history: $183 million in research and development expenditures and 216 new grants awarded. The university calls this period the "Run to R1".
$183M
research and development expenditures, FY2025
216
new grants awarded during the year
22
faculty with National Science Foundation CAREER awards
5
priority areas actively recruiting research leaders
To be clear about "R1": Texas State is not there yet
The Carnegie Classification ranks U.S. universities by research activity. R1 — "Very High Research Activity" — is the top tier, home to the leading American research universities. Texas State describes itself as "a national research university on the path to achieve an R1 Carnegie classification", and calls this period the Run to R1.
Five priority areas
These are the fields the university says it is recruiting leaders in.
Water
San Marcos sits on the Edwards Aquifer with its endemic ecosystem — a natural laboratory next to the campus.
Semiconductors
Central Texas is a major semiconductor cluster; the university works on next-generation materials and devices.
Aging and dementia
Research into brain health and care for older adults.
Artificial intelligence
The university runs a dedicated Master of Artificial Intelligence, not AI bolted onto another degree.
Digital humanities
Computational methods applied to history, literature and cultural heritage.
Selected funding partners
Selected funding partners
- NASA Johnson Space Center
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Geological Survey
List published by the university. Federal funding is the most practical signal of research quality: these agencies award on peer review, not reputation.
What this means for students
For an international applicant the practical question is not "where does the university rank for research" but "will a student like me get into a lab". At Texas State the answer is verifiable: on the 2026 PROVES Five satellite mission the flight-software lead was an undergraduate mathematics major, and five of the seven team members were undergraduates. The university published every name, role and level.
Three questions worth asking every university you consider
- From which year can students join a research lab?
- Do undergraduates do real work, or assist?
- Are there paid research assistant positions at bachelor’s level?
Read more
Source: the official Texas State University research page (FY2025 figures). The commentary on R1 and the three suggested questions are the International Office’s own. txst.edu/our-research
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