Jonathan Jacobs, associate professor of emerging infectious disease ecology, was awarded a 2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Uruguay. Credit: The Ohio State University
By Bianca Licitra
Earlier this week, the Fulbright Program recognized the higher education institutions in the United States that produced the most Fulbright students and scholars last year – and AAU member institutions again lead the list. Sponsored by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar programs offer Americans the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, or carry out other professional projects abroad.
Among the doctoral institutions that produced the most Fulbright scholars for 2025-26, The Ohio State University topped the list for the second consecutive year, with 12 faculty member and researcher awardees. Of the remaining nine top Fulbright-producing institutions, seven are AAU members: Michigan State University, Purdue University, University of South Florida, University of Arizona, University at Buffalo, University of Missouri-Columbia, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Forty doctoral institutions were recognized as top producers of Fulbright students, 31 of which are AAU member universities. Brown University and Harvard University tied for the second place spot, each with 41 awardee students, followed by Yale University, Dartmouth, Columbia University, New York University, University of Michigan, and Princeton University in the top ten student producers.
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to support international relations by increasing “mutual understanding” and supporting “friendly and peaceful relations” between the United States and other countries. In addition, the program bolsters the research excellence at U.S. institutions by providing opportunities for faculty and scholars to gain experience abroad while also showcasing the leadership and talent of American scholars and students on the world stage. Many Fulbright alumni have gone on to achieve distinction in their fields; among program alumni are 83 MacArthur Fellows, 63 Nobel Prize Laureates, and 93 Pulitzer Prize winners.
In a press statement, University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi commended Fulbright awardees for their contributions. “Through research and education, our Fulbright faculty scholars address consequential issues shaping global society. We are immensely proud of our Fulbright scholars — past and present — for their enduring contributions to our students, our communities and the world.”
Bianca Licitra is editorial and communications assistant at AAU.