NSF 101: Geographic diversity through EPSCoR

Ensuring that every citizen has access to STEM experiences is a critical piece to building an equitable research enterprise. Since 1979, NSF has addressed the need for geographic diversity through EPSCoR.

While EPSCoR jurisdictions include half of all states and three territories, their population totals 22% of the employed US workforce and confers 16% of science and engineering doctorates but received only 13% of NSF R&RA and EHR funding in FY 2021.

EPSCoR jurisdictions include a diverse population of scientists and engineers. For example, 50% of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, 29% of Hispanic-serving institutions, and 68% of tribal colleges and universities reside in EPSCoR jurisdictions.