The Carnegie Classifications are primarily a tool for supporting research on and understanding of U.S. higher education. On this page, we will feature research and analysis using the classifications and related data that may be of interest.
The Changing Landscape of U.S. Higher Education: 1973-2021
This analysis, produced by Dr. Victor Borden and colleagues at Indiana University-Bloomington, includes five dashboards that provide several different views of the changing landscape of U.S. higher education as seen through the lens of the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Opportunity Colleges and Universities by State
Opportunity Colleges and Universities include 478 institutions across 47 states, spanning public, private, and for-profit colleges; urban and rural institutions; community colleges and large research institutions; and a number of other dimensions.
Mini-series: Nondegree Programs
This four-part brief series explores the evolving ecosystem of college nondegree programs through a conceptual framework consisting of five interrelated domains. They represent key factors that shape how college nondegree programs are developed, delivered, and understood.
Mini-series: Supporting Student-Parents’ Social and Economic Mobility
These papers capture initial research and understanding of student-parents’ experiences in higher education, what data are available, and how institutions can help mitigate the common challenges that student-parents encounter in pursuing their degree or credential.
State Policy Briefs: How the Carnegie Classifications Can Support State Policy Goals (from HCM Strategists)
HCM Strategists produced a two-part series that breaks down the Carnegie Classifications and highlights how the new Classifications can inform decision-making and improve support for both students and institutions.
Brief 1: Beyond Labels: How States Can Use the 2025 Carnegie Classification to Understand and Advance Student Success | Student Access and Earnings Classification
Brief 2: Carnegie Classifications Redefined: A Framework for Smarter State Policy and Better Outcomes | Institutional Classification
Carnegie Classifications White Paper Series
This series contributes to the body of knowledge and research about the role of classification systems and the Carnegie Classifications, particularly in the context of the 2025 update.