Carnegie Classification
Basic Classification Methodology for Doctoral Universities
The Carnegie Classifications for Doctoral Universities are based on two main variables:
- Research & Development (R&D) Spending
- Research Doctorates Awarded
Each classification (R1, R2, and Research Colleges and Universities) is determined by thresholds for these variables. The 2025 classifications will use a new methodology, which takes the higher value between a three-year average or the most recent year for both R&D spending and doctorate production.
- Research & Development (R&D) Spending:
- Definition: Total expenditures for research and development activities in an institution, based on data reported to the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.
- Data Source: HERD Survey for FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023.
- Time Frame: Spending will be evaluated either as a three-year average (2021-2023) or as the single year with the highest spending (2023).
Thresholds:
- R1 (Very High Spending): At least $50 million per year.
- R2 (High Spending): At least $5 million per year.
- Research Colleges/Universities: At least $2.5 million per year.
- Research Doctorates Awarded:
- Definition: Number of doctoral degrees classified as “Doctor’s Degree – Research/Scholarship,” based on the IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System).
- Data Source: IPEDS for academic years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.
- Research Doctorates: Includes only those doctoral degrees reported as research-focused (i.e., PhDs, not professional doctorates like JDs or MDs).
Thresholds:
- R1 (Very High Production): At least 70 research doctorates awarded per year.
- R2 (High Production): At least 20 research doctorates awarded per year.
- Research Colleges/Universities: No specific minimum for doctorates, as long as R&D spending is at least $2.5 million.
How the Methodology Works
- Three-Year Average or Single Year Data:
- The classification will use the higher of either a three-year average or the most recent year of data for both R&D spending and doctorate production.
- In future releases, only a three-year average will be used.
- Thresholds for Classification:
- To be classified as R1 (Research 1: Very High Research Activity), an institution must meet or exceed both thresholds: $50 million in R&D spending and 70 research doctorates.
- To be classified as R2 (Research 2: High Research Activity), an institution must meet or exceed both thresholds: $5 million in R&D spending and 20 research doctorates.
- Research Colleges/Universities meet the $2.5 million R&D spending threshold but do not fall into the R1 or R2 categories.
User Manual: Carnegie Classification
Filters and Slicers
- State, City: Filter institutions by specific state or city.
- School Type: Filter results by type of institution (public, private, etc.).
- FY (Fiscal Year): Allows selection of fiscal year for data analysis.
- Institution: Filter by specific institution name.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- # of Institutions: Total number of institutions included in the analysis.
- Total Expenditure: Aggregated research expenditure across institutions.
- # of Research Doctorates: Total number of research doctorates awarded.
- Carnegie Criteria & Cluster: Shows selected Carnegie Classification criteria and cluster information.
Cards
- UTRGV Institution Information: Displays UTRGV-specific data such as Fiscal Year, Expenditure, Research Doctorates, and Carnegie Classification.
Visuals
- Comparison Summary Based on New Carnegie Criteria: Scatter plot visualizing institutions by the number of research doctorates and total yearly expenditure. Includes an R1 threshold line to differentiate institutions.
- Expenditure by Field/Discipline: Bar chart showing expenditure distribution across various research disciplines.
- Degree Conferred by Award Level: Column chart presenting the number of degrees conferred by award level.
Overall Functionality
This tab provides a comprehensive overview of the Carnegie Classification landscape, helping users compare UTRGV with other institutions based on research doctorates, expenditures, and classification status.
Filters and Slicers
- State, City: Select specific locations for data filtering.
- Institution: Filter data by individual institutions.
- School Type and FY: Choose type of institution and fiscal year for analysis.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Research Doctorates YoY Growth Rate: Displays the year-over-year growth rate of awarded research doctorates.
- Expenditure YoY Growth Rate: Shows the year-over-year growth rate in research expenditure.
Cards
- UTRGV Growth Metrics: Highlights UTRGV’s YoY growth metrics in expenditures and research doctorates.
Visuals
- Comparison Summary on YoY Growth Rate: Scatter plot illustrating the growth rate of research doctorates versus expenditure growth rate.
- Expenditure YoY Growth Rate by Institution: Bar chart of institutions with the highest YoY growth in expenditures.
- Research Doctorates YoY Growth Rate by Institution: Bar chart of institutions with the highest YoY growth in research doctorates.
Overall Functionality
This tab helps users analyze year-over-year growth in research activities across institutions, facilitating comparisons and trend analysis.
Filters and Slicers
- State, City, School Type, FY: Filter data by location, institution type, and fiscal year.
- Institution, Carnegie Criteria, Cluster: Filter by specific institutions, Carnegie Classification, and clustering groups.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Total Expenditure and Research Doctorates: Summed values for institutions within the selected filters.
Visuals
- Data Table: A detailed table listing institutions with columns such as Fiscal Year, School Type, Institution, Carnegie Criteria, Research Doctorates, and Yearly Total Expenditure. Includes an option to export data for offline analysis.
Overall Functionality
This section provides a detailed tabular view of institution data, allowing users to drill down into specific metrics and export the information for further examination.
Filters and Slicers
- None on this page; instead, it serves as a guidance section.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- None; this page is informational.
Cards
- User Guide and Suggested Questions: Includes common questions for users to explore, with links to filtered views based on the questions.
Visuals
- Suggested Questions Panel: Cards with pre-defined questions to help users navigate and understand the dashboard's capabilities.
Overall Functionality
This page acts as a help and guidance section, providing users with predefined queries and instructions to maximize their dashboard experience. It’s aimed at easing the use of filters and helping users interpret the data.