Graduate Research Fellowship Program Quick Facts

Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is the U.S. National Science Foundation's first program, launched shortly after Congress established the agency in 1950, with the directive to recruit high-potential individuals early in their careers to pursue graduate research training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Since its inception, more than 40 former fellows have been awarded the Nobel Prize and more than 400 have been elected as members to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

As GRFP nears its 75th anniversary in 2025, NSF turned to the program's roots — its original mandate to recruit talented individuals who demonstrated potential to make outstanding contributions to STEM. The program's staff significantly increased outreach efforts to ensure no communities were overlooked in seeking promising talent. The program especially prioritized virtual information sessions, offering presentations to institutions large and small and to meetings held across the country. This emphasis on virtual outreach came in handy when the pandemic erupted, as students could join from anywhere, get information about the program and ask questions. NSF successfully tapped a broad swath of students, and its efforts are reflected in the competition outcomes.

The individuals offered fellowships during 2020-2024 reflect the diversity of the country's student population, as seen in the table below:

 
Offered Award
Fellowship Year
Applications
Offered Award
Female
Underrepresented Minorities
Persons with Disabilities
Veterans
Undergraduates/ Bachelor’s degrees

2020

13,835

2,076

1,223

(59%)

462

(22%)

105

(5%)

20

(1%)

877

(42%)

2021

13,802

2,074

1,203

(58%)

550

(27%)

145

(7%)

25

(1%)

846

(41%)

2022

12,626

2,193

1,236

(56%)

523

(24%)

143

(7%)

22

(1%)

891

(41%)

2023

12,664

2,555

1,431

(56%)

666

(26%)

201

(8%)

14

(1%)

1,023

(40%)

2024

14,106

2,037

1,083

(53%)

548

(27%)

277

(14%)

21

(1%)

898

(44%)

In 2020, the White House underscored the importance of training future leaders in the high-priority areas of artificial intelligence, quantum information sciences and computationally intensive research.

In 2021, NSF introduced language in the GRFP description to highlight accessibility accommodations available to individuals identifying as having disabilities. That year, the competition yielded a near-doubling of fellowship offers to persons with disabilities, from 74 (3.6%) the previous year to 145 (7%).

Congress passed the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," which authorized NSF to award 2500 fellowships in 2023. The focus on recruiting high-potential individuals allowed NSF to offer 1,023 Fellowships to those who had not yet started graduate school, a record for the program.

Moving forward, NSF will continue to support individuals with demonstrated potential to make outstanding contributions to STEM. NSF looks forward to awarding an ever-increasing number of award fellowships in the future.

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