UT Arlington and UT Dallas achieve Carnegie “tier one” classification

AUSTIN—The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Texas at Dallas have both been named top research institutions by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The elite classification – R-1: Doctoral Universities-Highest Research Activity – is often referred to as “tier one” status. Only 115 institutions in the nation are listed in that category.

“I am proud of these two tremendous institutions, as well as their leadership teams, faculty, staff and students,” Chancellor William H. McRaven said. “Both universities have spent years advancing their research, academic scholarship and teaching activities, and this newest level of achievement is well-deserved and hard-earned.”

UT System Board of Regents Chairman Paul Foster also extended his congratulations to Vistasp Karbhari, president of UT Arlington, David Daniel, immediate former president of UT Dallas, and Hobson Wildenthal, interim president of UT Dallas.

“We are so pleased to see UT Arlington and UT Dallas recognized by the Carnegie Classification for the achievement of excellence,” Foster said. “I know that this latest milestone will drive them to reach even greater heights in education and research.”

The Carnegie Classification is based on research and development expenditures in both science and engineering and in non-science and engineering fields; science and engineering research staff including post-doctoral candidates and non-faculty staff with doctorates; and doctoral conferrals in humanities and social sciences fields, in STEM fields, and in other areas such as business, education, public policy and social work. 

Other Carnegie Tier One institutions in Texas include The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Rice University, the University of Houston, Texas Tech University and the University of North Texas.

Additionally, three Texas institutions are members of the Association of American Universities, which is composed of 62 institutions considered to be on the world’s leading edge of innovation, scholarship and solutions. Those institutions are UT Austin, A&M and Rice.

About The University of Texas System

Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking basic, applied and clinical research, and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. With 14 institutions and an enrollment of more than 217,000, the UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates almost two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public institutions in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $16.9 billion (FY 2016) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 20,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates – and more than 70,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.