ECU, UNC Charlotte earn prestigious R1 designation for research activity

Two North Carolina universities with growing research capabilities have received the highest classification that a doctoral university can receive.

East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte both announced on Feb. 13 that they have been classified as Research 1 (R1) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The classification, indicating “very high research activity,” places the two schools among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity, joining three other North Carolina universities with R1 designations: Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With the additions, the five North Carolina schools are among 187 institutions nationwide that are classified as top-tier doctoral research universities.

“Achieving R1 status reflects our commitment to establish Charlotte as a top-tier research institution,” said Chancellor Sharon Gaber. “This milestone is the result of the dedication and innovation of our faculty and staff, whose work attracts top talent and critical support. It also fuels economic growth, with research investments driving a fivefold return, strengthening the regional workforce and contributing to Charlotte’s economy. This achievement is a win not only for our University but for our region.”

ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers said, “East Carolina University’s designation as an R1 institution is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff and students. Our university’s success in research is a direct reflection of our mission – advancing student success, public service and regional transformation. This milestone will open doors to more opportunities for collaboration, discovery and academic excellence.”

Prestigious designation

The R1 designation affirms that schools are at the forefront of research and innovation, offer extensive doctoral programs, attract and retain field-leading faculty, and draw significant public and private funding. Criteria for R1 status in 2025 include spending at least $50 million on research and development annually and awarding at least 70 research doctorates per year.

UNC Charlotte had $92 million in research expenditures for fiscal year 2023 and awards an average of 160 doctoral degrees each year. The university has 66 faculty members who have received $1 million or more in external grant funding. Since 2020 it has reported 146 new inventions, 239 patents filed and 18 spin-out companies created.

“Carnegie R1 designation is synonymous with academic excellence, research innovation and impact, the catalysts for research breakthroughs that lead to new technologies, businesses and economic growth,” said John Daniels, UNC Charlotte's vice chancellor for research. “UNC Charlotte – the region’s leading research university – is making a difference where it matters most to the Queen City and its workforce: health care and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, energy, data science, cybersecurity, AI, business leadership, arts and culture, and more.”

ECU’s research community includes more than 420 funded faculty members and 546 graduate students, all engaged in a range of research activities. In 2023 ECU directed $67.1 million to research expenditures, and grant awards have totaled $326.9 million over the last four years. Additionally, ECU provided $8.9 million in funding to graduate students for research in 2024.

“Across ECU’s campuses and through fieldwork, researchers pioneer new treatments for critical illness, develop strategies to grow successful businesses, harness the power of natural resources, transform classroom experiences, explore the intersection of creativity and cultural expression, work to improve health care delivery and patient outcomes, and more,” said Sharon Paynter, chief innovation and engagement officer and interim chief research officer at ECU. “With an eye toward leveraging rural opportunities, ECU impacts eastern North Carolina and communities across the globe.”

Mark Phillips, vice president of statewide operations and executive director of the Eastern Regional Office for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, said, “We are thrilled that ECU has joined the ranks of prestigious institutions across the country that have a very high level of research activity. We’re thrilled but not surprised. With our close relationship, particularly through NCBiotech’s research grant program, we see how ECU research impacts the life sciences and how it translates into commercial opportunities that are so important to the overall economic impact of the region and across the state.”

Corie Curtis, executive director of NCBiotech’s Greater Charlotte Office, said, “Congratulations to our partners at UNC Charlotte on their merited inclusion among R1 institutions. This achievement reflects the university’s unwavering commitment to excellence with cutting-edge research, innovation and commercialization to drive economic growth. Alongside UNC Charlotte, the entire Queen City region celebrates this distinction.”

ECU and UNC Charlotte had previously been classified by Carnegie as Research 2 (R2) institutions, denoted as having “high research activity” but with an emphasis more evenly distributed between teaching and research. Three North Carolina universities now hold the R2 designation: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Wake Forest University.

The Carnegie Classification was developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1970 as a way to distinguish institutions for educational and research purposes. The classifications, managed by the American Council on Education, are updated and released every three years.