Upgraded Carnegie Classifications Unveiled; 41 Institutions Obtain R1 Ranking
Unveiling the latest shakeup in the higher education landscape, the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching have rolled out a fresh classification system for colleges and universities. This new framework has resulted in an additional 41 institutions earning the coveted "Research 1: Very High Spending and Doctorate Production" or "R1" status, the highest research ranking possible.
Under this revamped scheme, colleges and universities are now categorized into three distinct research categories:
- Research 1 (R1): Very High Spending and Doctorate Production: This elite group of institutions spends at least $50 million annually on research and awards 70 or more research doctorates each year. In the 2025 classification, 187 institutions bear the R1 designation, with notables like American University, Brigham Young University, College of William & Mary, and Michigan Technological University making their debut in this segment.
- Research 2 (R2): High Spending and Doctorate Production: Requiring at least $5 million annual research expenditures and 20 research doctorates awarded yearly, this classification houses 139 institutions in 2025. Newcomers includes Abilene Christian University, California State University campuses, and Hofstra University.
- Research Colleges and Universities: A new category for universities that "historically have not been recognized for their research activity," including institutions not offering many or any doctoral degrees. This designation now includes 218 institutions, such as Amherst College, Bowie State University, Missouri State University, and San Jose State University.
Interested parties can access the comprehensive list of institutions receiving the 2025 Research Activity Designation right here.
Institutions that climbed the Carnegie Framework were eager to trumpet their advancements. Michigan Technological University President Rich Koubek remarked, "by sticking to Michigan Tech’s founding charter, we’ve entered the top echelons of U.S. research institutions while serving Michigan industry. Though we maintained our core values in our pursuit of R1 designation, we are immensely pleased to be celebrated for our research and education achievements and look forward to the opportunities R1 status brings."
Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Grace Wang echoed his sentiments, praising her school's new recognition as "a significant achievement." She continued, "WPI's research is advancing knowledge, solving novel problems, and enhancing students' learning experiences. The recognition of WPI's research prowess nationally fills us with pride."
The Carnegie Foundation's classification of research universities can be traced back to 1973, initially leveraging the highest degree awarded as the primary determinant for categorization. However, the research methodology and classification structure have evolved multiple times over the years, with recent changes aiming to modernize the system and recognize a wider spectrum of research activities.
Timothy F.C. Knowles, Carnegie Foundation president, applauded the updates, stating, "These Carnegie Classification updates are the first step in bringing an antiquated system into the 21st century. We aim to broaden recognition of how colleges and universities engage in research and development. By removing the mystery surrounding R1 institutions, this will ultimately benefit the academic community, policymakers, and students alike."
One of the primary motivations behind this revamped classification was to eliminate what Inside Higher Education referred to as an "arms race" and the related negative incentives associated with the struggle to obtain R1 status under previous classifications. Craving R1 recognition could occasionally lead to excessive spending and mission drift at some universities.
ACE (American Council on Education) President Ted Mitchell expressed his satisfaction over the updated classification, stating, "instead of limiting research designations to institutions awarding Ph.Ds, we now celebrate the research contributions of all types of colleges and universities. This is undoubtedly excellent news."
More alterations to the Carnegie Classifications are on the horizon, with plans to publish the 2025 Institutional Classification in April. This revision will concentrate on aspects such as the degrees offered, fields of study, and institution size to create a more representative classification of higher education institutions nationwide.
Interestingly, the Research Activity Designations were separated from the Basic Classification in the 2025 update due to the altered Institutional Classification methodology, which does not consider research in its analysis. Instead, the 2025 Research Activity Designations were published individually for comprehensive review.
- The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation's new classification system has recognized Worcester Polytechnic Institute as a Research University, a notable addition to the institutions in this category.
- Michigan Technological University, now an R1 university, is one of the 41 institutions that have ascended in the American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation's revamped hierarchy of universities.
- In the revised classification, the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation have categorized many universities under the Research 2 (R2) designation, including Michigan Technological University's peer institution, the University of Michigan, which falls under this classification.
- As the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation release their updated classification, many universities, such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Michigan Technological University, are likely to leverage their new status to attract scholarships and further research opportunities.
- Characteristics of R1 universities, like Michigan Technological University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, often include significant research budgets, collaborations with industry, and a high production of research doctorates.
- Universities striving for R1 status, such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Michigan Technological University, can learn from their ascent in the American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation's classification system and apply those lessons to their institutions' research and development strategies.
