[Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a correction. In Wednesday’s edition of the Alligator, it was incorrectly reported that UF spent $681,548 on research in 2010. The article should have read $681,548,000.]
UF was ranked one of the Top 25 schools for research spending, and a university spokesman said it shows the school’s prestige.
In a survey conducted by the National Science Foundation that looked at data from 2010, UF ranked 21st for the most money spent on research. In 2009, UF was 22nd.
The university spent $681,548,000 on research in 2010, according to the survey, which was released last month. UF was the only Florida school listed in the Top 25. The University of South Florida was 50th, the University of Miami was 74th and Florida State University was 84th.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said the rank means students have access to faculty who are doing major research.
“This adds a great deal of value to their education, their experience at the university and to their long-range plans,” he said.
Rebecca Saunders, a 20-year-old food science and human nutrition sophomore, said this shows the school’s research priorities.
“It shows that UF doesn’t just want people to get As in their classes,” Saunders said.
