The University of Houston has been named one of only 21 institutions nationwide to earn both the “Very High Research Activity” (R1) and “Opportunity College & University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” designations in the newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications. This dual recognition places UH in a distinguished group of universities that lead the nation in advancing both research innovation and socioeconomic mobility.
The Student Access and Earnings Classification highlights institutions that serve a student body reflective of their local communities and help those students achieve competitive post-graduation earnings. Only 16% of U.S. colleges and universities received the OCU designation. The classification is based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Census Bureau. Institutions are evaluated on:
- Access: Percentage of Pell Grant recipients and underrepresented students enrolled
- Earnings: Median undergraduate earnings eight years after enrollment, contextualized by regional wage data
At the same time, UH has reaffirmed its position as a Carnegie R1 university, a prestigious classification awarded to institutions with the highest levels of research activity and doctoral education. Only 187 institutions nationwide received the R1 designation, and UH has maintained this top-tier status since 2011. In FY2024, the university reported $232 million in research expenditures and awarded more than 350 doctoral degrees.
“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.” - UH President Renu Khator
In addition to the R1 and OCU designations, UH received an updated institutional classification of “Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate–Doctorate Large,” a category that includes just 3% of U.S. institutions and reflects the university’s breadth of academic offerings and role 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 has long been a leader in student success for all students. Among public research and emerging research institutions in Texas, UH grants the largest number of graduate degrees to students from low-income communities. The university also ranks No. 36 nationally on U.S. News & World Report’s Social Mobility Index.
With these dual Carnegie designations, the University of Houston continues to distinguish itself as a national model for how public research universities can simultaneously advance opportunity and innovation — driving both individual success and societal progress.
For more information about the Carnegie Classifications and the new methodologies, visit the Carnegie classifications webpage.