Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Formation	1970
Type	Educational taxonomy
Location	United States

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying colleges and universities in the United States. It was first published in 1970 by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. The classification system is widely used in the field of higher education for research, policy analysis, and institutional benchmarking.

History

The Carnegie Classification was developed by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, a program of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The original purpose of the classification was to support the Foundation’s program of research and policy analysis. Over the years, the classification has been revised to reflect changes in the higher education landscape.

Classification Framework

The Carnegie Classification categorizes institutions based on several factors including the level of degrees offered, the breadth of degree programs, and the volume of research activity. Major categories include:

• Doctoral Universities: Institutions that award at least 20 doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.
• Master's Colleges and Universities: Schools that primarily offer a wide range of master's degree programs but few doctoral programs.
• Baccalaureate Colleges: Institutions focused on undergraduate education with different arts & sciences and professional programs.
• Associate's Colleges: Colleges that primarily award associate degrees.
• Special Focus Institutions: Schools that offer specialized programs in professional fields such as engineering, business, arts, and health sciences.
• Tribal Colleges: Colleges that serve primarily indigenous populations.

Usage and Impact

The Carnegie Classification is used by academic researchers, institutional leaders, and policymakers to analyze trends in higher education, allocate resources, and develop policy. It is also used by prospective students and faculty as a way to evaluate and compare institutions.

Updates and Revisions

The classification system is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the higher education sector. Updates typically occur every few years, with the most recent revision released in 2018.

Criticism and Controversy

While widely used, the Carnegie Classification has faced criticism for potentially reinforcing existing hierarchies in higher education by emphasizing research over teaching and the size of institutions over the quality of education. Critics argue that this can lead to an undue focus on achieving higher classifications at the expense of educational quality and mission.

See Also

• Higher education in the United States
• List of colleges and universities in the United States
• Educational accreditation in the United States