Syracuse University Designated an R1 Doctoral University

The newly released Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has placed Syracuse University among 146 “Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.” The R1 designation is the top tier of doctoral research universities in the United States.

The R1 distinction is based on an examination of 2019-2020 data. Criteria for research activity includes such factors as total research expenditures, full-time faculty and research staff, and number of postdoctoral fellows and doctoral degree conferrals. Syracuse University is one of 39 private doctoral universities classified as R1.

The Carnegie Classification, created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and first published in 1973, is the widely accepted industry standard for classifying schools by higher education researchers and others. The U.S. Department of Education and many higher education associations use the classifications to organize data as well as determine a school’s eligibility for grant funding. The classifications are also used by U.S. News & World Report in grouping institutions by type for its popular Best Colleges rankings guide.

For more information, visit the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education website.