Carnegie Classification

Origin and Control of the Classification System

The original classification structure was derived from empirical data on colleges and universities. It has subsequently been updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018, using the Institutional Post-Secondary Educational Data Sets (IPEDS) from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES). It includes any institution that conferred at least one degree as reported to IPEDS/NCES.

In 2005–2006, the Carnegie Classification framework was revised to incorporate an additional categorization for Community Engagement, defined as “collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.” Developed in conjunction with Campus Compact, the classification includes institutions that report a particular emphasis on curricular engagement and/or outreach and partnerships. Community Engagement is an elective classification, as institutions elect to apply for consideration. The first cohort included 83 institutions and grew to more than 300 by 2015. In 2017, the Brown University Swearer Center for Public Service assumed responsibility for the Community Engagement as a part of its College and University Engagement Initiative. The classification application and announcement cycle will occur in 5-year intervals, beginning in 2020.

In 2014, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (home of the Carnegie Commission) transferred responsibility for the classification system to Indiana University Bloomington’s Center for Postsecondary Research (CPR). The transfer of control was voluntarily made by Carnegie with support from the Lumina Foundation. Indiana University’s CPR focuses on the policies that promote student success, educational effectiveness, and institutional development. It also houses the National Survey of Student Engagement and the National Student Clearinghouse. The Carnegie Foundation retains a seat on CPR’s classification advisory board and the classification structure retains the Carnegie name.

In the 2018 update, the classification divisions of Doctoral Universities were reshaped to better accommodate “Doctor’s degree—professional practice” within the methodology.

Carnegie Classification System

Within the Carnegie Classification system, the Basic Classification of educational institutions is based on degrees offered, awarded, and reported through IPEDS in the most recently completed academic year. Special focus institutions and tribal colleges each have an independent listing, although they may offer degrees consistent with other classifications. The 2018 classifications included 4,234 institutions described as follows, according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education website:

• Doctoral Universities: This category includes institutions that awarded at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and had research expenditures of over $5 million. The category also includes those institutions that awarded at least 30 professional practice doctoral degrees in at least two programs. There are three subcategories of doctoral universities: those with very high research activities (R1), those with high research activities (R2), and doctoral/professional universities.
• Master’s Colleges and Universities: This category includes institutions that awarded at least 50 master’s degrees but fewer than 20 doctoral degrees. There are three subcategories: larger programs (M1), medium programs (M2), and smaller programs (M3).
• Baccalaureate Colleges: This category includes institutions for which the baccalaureate or higher degree represent at least 50% of all degrees but which award fewer than 50 master’s degrees or 20 or fewer doctoral degrees. There are two subcategories: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus and Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields.
• [Page 220]Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges: This category includes 4-year colleges that conferred more than 50% of degrees at the associate’s level. There are two subcategories: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges and Associate Dominant.
• Associate’s Colleges: The associate’s degree is the highest degree awarded at these institutions. Institutions in this category are sorted into nine categories based on an intersection of their disciplinary focus and dominant student type: High Transfer-High Traditional, High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional, High Transfer-High Nontraditional, Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Traditional, Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional, Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional, High Career & Technical-High Traditional, High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional, and High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional.
• Special Focus Institutions: Degrees from these institutions represent a high concentration in a single field or set of related fields. The categories include 2-year (Health Professions, Technical Professions, Arts & Design, and Other Fields) and 4-year (Faith-Related Institutions, Medical Schools & Centers, Other Health Professions Schools, Engineering Schools, Other Technology-Related Schools, Business & Management Schools, Arts, Music & Design Schools, Law Schools, and Other Special Focus Institutions).
• Tribal Colleges: These colleges and universities are members of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, as identified in IPEDS Institutional Characteristics.

In addition to the aforementioned Basic Classifications, the Carnegie Classification system regroups institutions using the following

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