Top-Tier Research Status for HBCUs?

The Impact of Changes to the Carnegie Classification Criteria in 2025

As of 2025, changes to the Carnegie Classification system have simplified the path for institutions to achieve R1 research status—but this shift could pose new challenges for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). While the streamlined criteria lower procedural barriers, they emphasize raw research expenditures and PhD output—metrics where many HBCUs, despite strong talent production, remain underfunded. This policy brief explores how HBCUs can still pursue top-tier status by increasing STEM PhD conferrals, building institutional funding, and aligning with the goals of Section 223 of the 2023 NDAA. These steps are vital for boosting the defense research capacity of minority-serving institutions and advancing national competitiveness in science and technology.