Gulf State universities received $418 million in federal R&D funds for FY 1997 (see Table 3). This represents a 3.1 percent share of all federal funding to universities. Alabama universities led the way, receiving $220 million in federal funds. Louisiana received $136 million and Mississippi was allocated $53 million (see Table 3).

These federal funds accounted for 51 percent of the $823 million university and college R&D funding in FY 1997 (see Table 4). Institutional funds (i.e., funds derived from tuition, endowment, income, and appropriations in public universities) were second with $176 million and state/local funding (excluding direct appropriations) totaled $109 million. Industry contributes less than 10 percent with $71 million.

HHS accounted for more than half of the federal R&D dollars that went to universities and colleges with $206 million in 1997 (see Table 3). DOD ($42 million), the Department of Agriculture (USDA, $42 million), NASA ($40 million), and the Department of Energy (DOE, $37 million) each allocated roughly the same amount to the region.

The Gulf States had one university ranked in the top 50 university and college recipients of federal R&D funds and three in the top 100 during FY 1997. The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) is 25th in receiving federal R&D funds with $152 million. Louisiana State University (LSU) ranks 59th with $68 million and Tulane University is 90th with $44 million. If all sources of R&D funding are included, the Gulf States place two schools in the top 50 and five schools in the top 100 (see Table 4). LSU jumps to 35th with $205 million, UAB is 36th with $204 million, Tulane is 91st with $86 million, Auburn University hits 95th with $85 million, and Mississippi State University is 96th with $84 million.