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And Still We RISE: Celebrating HBCUs Achieving Distinguished Carnegie Research Institution Status

Writer's picture: VBLMVBLM
2 min read

Aerial view of Virginia Hall, central building of Virginia State University public historically Black land-grant university in Ettrick with dramatic colorful sunset sky.
Aerial view of Virginia Hall, central building of Virginia State University public historically Black land-grant university in Ettrick with dramatic colorful sunset sky.

Despite crippling funding and historical inequities and other challenges faced by the nations prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), they continue to excel and produce the brightest graduates who make significant impacts in their respective fields and communities, world-wide!


The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a widely recognized and respected framework for categorizing colleges and universities in the United States. Created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, it is now managed by the American Council on Education.


When an institution is recognized by Carnegie as a research institution, it means it has been classified within one of the "Research Universities" categories based on its level of research activities. To be recognized highlights and elevates an institutions': opportunities for funding, faculty recruitment, and more. For those achieving an R1 or R2 status, the framework confirms the institution's dedication to research and amplifies its reputation amongst other institutions.


The Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education has released their coveted list of universities to have reached distinguished research statuses in February 2025. Of those, we would like to highlight the HBCUs and celebrate them, by listing them below:


Howard University - The only HBCU to achieve R1 status!


HBCUs listed as achieving R2 status:

  • Clark Atlanta University

  • Delaware State University

  • Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

  • Hampton University*

  • Jackson State University

  • Morgan State University

  • North Carolina A & T State University

  • Prairie View A & M University

  • South Carolina State University

  • Southern University and A & M College

  • Tennessee State University

  • Texas Southern University

  • Virginia State University*


HBCUs Recognized as Research Colleges and Universities:

  • Alabama A & M University

  • Alabama State University

  • Alcorn State University

  • Bowie State University

  • Central State University

  • Fayetteville State University

  • Fisk University

  • Fort Valley State University

  • Kentucky State University

  • Langston University

  • Lincoln University

  • Meharry Medical College

  • Morehouse College

  • Morehouse School of Medicine

  • Norfolk State University*

  • North Carolina Central University

  • Spelman College

  • Tougaloo College

  • Tuskegee University

  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore

  • University of the District of Columbia

  • University of the Virginia Islands

  • West Virginia State University

  • Winston-Salem State University

  • Xavier University of Louisiana


There are currently 101 HBCUS in America, and of that number, we are thrilled to share that 40% of our beloved HBCUS are recognized as Research Colleges and Universities!

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