Houston Daily

The University of Houston (UH) has achieved a significant milestone by being recognized as one of only 21 institutions in the United States to receive both the "Very High Research Activity" (R1) and "Opportunity College & University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings" designations in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. This achievement places UH among a select group of universities noted for their contributions to research innovation and socioeconomic mobility.

The Student Access and Earnings Classification acknowledges institutions that mirror their local communities in student body composition and support students in achieving competitive earnings after graduation. Notably, only 16% of U.S. colleges and universities were awarded the OCU designation. This classification relies on data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and the U.S. Census Bureau, evaluating institutions based on access — specifically, the percentage of Pell Grant recipients and underrepresented students enrolled — and earnings, measured by median undergraduate earnings eight years post-enrollment contextualized by regional wage data.

Simultaneously, UH maintains its status as a Carnegie R1 university, a prestigious classification given to institutions with high levels of research activity and doctoral education. Only 187 institutions nationwide have received this R1 designation, which UH has held since 2011. In FY2024, UH reported $232 million in research expenditures and awarded over 350 doctoral degrees.

UH President Renu Khator stated: “This recognition reaffirms what we at the University of Houston have long known — academic excellence and social impact go hand in hand. Maintaining our new Opportunity College and University designation reflects our unwavering commitment to access and economic mobility for all students, while our R1 research status speaks to the strength of our faculty and the transformative scholarship happening on our campus.”

In addition to these recognitions, UH received an updated institutional classification of "Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate–Doctorate Large," a category encompassing just 3% of U.S. institutions that highlights UH's broad academic offerings as a comprehensive public research university.

“These recognitions help tell the full story of our institution’s impact,” said Diane Z. Chase, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “UH is a powerhouse for ideas, innovation and opportunity. We are changing lives through discovery, access and economic mobility — not only for our students but for the communities we serve.”

UH continues its leadership role in student success across Texas's public research landscape by granting more graduate degrees to students from low-income communities than any other institution in its category within Texas. Nationally, it ranks No. 36 on U.S. News & World Report’s Social Mobility Index.

These dual Carnegie designations further solidify UH's position as a national example for how public research universities can foster both opportunity and innovation while promoting individual success alongside societal advancement.

For additional details about Carnegie Classifications or methodologies used, visit their official webpage.