The 2025 Carnegie Classifications will include research designations as separate listings from the Basic Classification. There will be three research groupings, all of which will be set by a threshold. Thresholds may be changed in future years; updated methodology will be shared ahead of each classification release.
In 2025, the Carnegie Classifications will use the higher of either a three-year average (2021, 2022, 2023) or most recent single year data (2023). In future releases, the classifications will use only a three-year average. Spending data will be taken from the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey for FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023. Doctorate production will be taken from data reported to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for academic years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23. Research doctorates include all degrees reported as a Doctor’s Degree – Research/Scholarship in IPEDS, following the IPEDS definition.
These changes are part of a series of updates for the Carnegie Classifications. For more information about the changes, please see the press release and the FAQ.
Research 1: Very High Spending and Doctorate Production
On average in a single year, these institutions spend at least $50 million on research & development and produce at least 70 research doctorates.
Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production
On average in a single year, these institutions spend at least $5 million on research & development and produce at least 20 research doctorates.
Research Colleges and Universities
On average in a single year, these institutions spend at least $2.5 million on research & development. Institutions that are in the R1 or R2 categories are not included.