February 18, 2025
On February 13, 2025, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (Carnegie Foundation) in coordination with the American Council on Education (ACE) published the 2025 Research Activity Designations. The Carnegie Classifications are published every three years. The criteria used to determine the 2025 Carnegie Classifications were updated from those referenced in the last publication. Information regarding the 2025 Research Activity Designations can be found on the Carnegie Classifications website.
Research Activity Designations were previously included in the Basic Classification, but in 2025 have been separated. A fact sheet regarding the 2025 Research Activity Designations was published in conjunction with the February 13, 2025 announcement.
The 2025 Institutional Classification (previously the Basic Classification) will be released in April of 2025 and will also utilize updated criteria.
2025 Research Activity Designation Categories
The 2025 Research Activity Designations maintain the Research 1 and Research 2 categories featured in previous editions of the Carnegie Classifications. Criteria for the Research 2 category were unchanged.
Criteria for the Research 1 category were streamlined. Research 1 institutions must, on average in a single year, “spend at least $50 million on research and development and award at least 70 research doctorates” (see the 2025 Research Activity Designations Fact Sheet, “Criteria for the 2025 Research Activity Designations”).
New in the 2025 Research Activity Designations is the category of Research Colleges and Universities. Institutions in this category do not offer many or any doctoral degrees but must, on average in a single year “award at least $2.5 million on research and development” (see the 2025 Research Activity Designations Fact Sheet, “Criteria for the 2025 Research Activity Designations”).
2025 Institutional Classification
Previously referred to as the Basic Classification, the 2025 Institutional Classification will be released in April of 2025. This classification “will shift to a more multidimensional approach, organizing institutions by multiple characteristics to create groups of similar institution types” (see the 2025 Institutional Classification page on the Carnegie Classifications website). New to the 2025 classifications will be a Student Access and Earnings Classification and expanded Elective Classifications although exact details regarding the Elective Classifications are still being finalized (see the 2025 Institutional Classification FAQ page on the Carnegie Classifications website).
Impact
With these new criteria, it is possible that institutions received a different research designation than as noted in previous publications of the Carnegie Classifications. As well, it is possible that an institution not previously categorized as Research 1 or Research 2 is categorized as such now, or that an institution has gained the new Research College and University categorization, recognizing levels of research activity and spending not previously included in the classifications.
NASD encourages institutions to review the information published by the Carnegie Foundation regarding these updates as cited above and elsewhere on the Carnegie Classifications website. Questions regarding the changes and how they might impact institutions are best directed to the Carnegie Classifications staff.
NASD offers its appreciation for your accomplishments and your steadfast and continuing efforts.