William & Mary classified as one of the nation’s top research institutions
Reflecting William & Mary’s commitment to advancing knowledge through high-level, cutting-edge research, the university has been designated an “R1” research institution by the Carnegie Classification system.
The research classifications, announced today by American Council on Education (ACE) and Carnegie Foundation, represent the highest level available to universities that grant doctorates. The R1 classification elevates W&M’s stellar reputation for research and scholarship, allowing for expanded publication and grant opportunities. The standing also aligns with the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching and providing the most personal education of any public university in the nation.
“This classification is a well-deserved milestone for our outstanding students and faculty,” said Provost Peggy Agouris. “It reflects our university’s commitment to innovative research and scholarship and exemplifies William & Mary’s mission as a research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and making a meaningful impact. This new designation further elevates our commitment to research of consequence, empowering our scholars to push the boundaries of discovery and drive solutions that shape the world around us.”
William & Mary’s research activities span a wide variety of areas and involve more than 20 research centers and institutes. Characteristic of William & Mary’s community, much of the research is interdisciplinary and involves students ranging from undergraduates to post-docs.
The university offers an extensive portfolio of doctoral programs across four academic units: Arts & Sciences, the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics, the School of Education and W&M’s Batten School & VIMS. Between 2020 and 2023, William & Mary conferred an average of 70 doctoral degrees each year.
In fiscal year 2023, the university processed more than $81 million in research expenditures, supported by grants. That total does not include the many research efforts happening around campus that are not supported through sponsored programs.
The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed its classification system, which is updated every three years, in 1973. It includes more than a dozen classifications for institutions of higher education but is primarily known for its research activity designations.
In 2021, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education partnered to reimagine the classifications “to better reflect the public purpose, mission, focus, and impact of higher education.”
The new classifications were discussed today during the closing session for the ACE Experience 2025 (ACEx2025) event in Washington, D.C.
“The 2025 Carnegie Classifications will create a more robust picture of higher education across the U.S. and make visible those institutions that demonstrably accelerate educational and career opportunities for students,” said Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, in a 2023 press release.
With William & Mary’s ascension to R1 status, the university is entering a new era of research excellence and impact, strengthening the ability of the faculty to attract large-scale competitive funding, expand interdisciplinary collaboration across the liberal arts and sciences and advance knowledge in ways that address pressing societal and global challenges.
As the university builds on this achievement, the focus remains on enhancing research opportunities for our students, fortifying the doctoral pipeline and fostering an environment where faculty and students collaborate closely in the pursuit of transformative inquiry, while also supporting the highly personal and comprehensive academic experience that defines William & Mary.
Learn more about some of William & Mary’s latest research projects in the following W&M News stories. Additional research and scholarship stories are available here.
- W&M professor conducts one of the largest university-led fasting studies
- LiDAR project maps world’s largest earthen enclosure
- The sun in the jar: A W&M summer school helps lead the way toward AI-powered nuclear fusion
- Reducing distrust in social media is not straightforward, computer scientists warn
- At W&M, engineering-minded physics meets neuroscience to innovate memory care
- Purple crabs clobber blue carbon
- 2024 Chesapeake Bay dead zone near average size but shorter duration
- W&M School of Education awarded $3M to tackle youth mental health crisis
- It’s time for new perspectives on algaeResearchers at William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS are researching the critical role played by various algae in maintaining the health of not only their own habitats but of coastal communities worldwide.
- Love by the books: From a late night in Swem to wedding bellsEvan De Buglio '23 and Meredith Salesses '22 started their relationship at William & Mary, with the happy couple now engaged.
- Arts & Sciences and Reves Center launch spring series on arts & democracyGuatemalan photographer and activist Daniel Hernández-Salazar will serve as keynote.
- Fashioning a businessDelia Folk ’14 co-founded The Style That Binds Us to empower women through personal style.
- Madagascar water sensor project supports community-led conservation efforts worldwideThe interdisciplinary collaboration between W&M’s IIC, Malagasy communities and Conservation International increases the affordability and accessibility of monitoring water quality.
- Swem Library’s love letters collection showcases romance throughout historyOn Feb. 13, the library will be holding an open house with various letters, zines, photographs and more on display in preparation for Valentine’s Day.
