NRUF

The Texas Legislature established the National Research University Fund (NRUF) “to provide a dedicated, independent, and equitable source of funding to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities.”

Eligibility is based on an institution meeting benchmarks in the following categories.

The institution:

1. must be designated as an emerging research university in the Coordinating Board’s accountability system;
2. must have expenditures of at least $45 million in restricted research; and
3. must comply with four of the following:
   • $400 million endowment annually;
   • 200 PhD degrees awarded annually;
   • freshmen class with high academic achievement;
   • membership in Association of Research Libraries, Phi Beta Kappa or equivalent national recognition;
   • high quality faculty;
   • commitment to high quality graduate education.