UC Irvine earns prestigious dual designations in 2025 Carnegie Classifications

I am delighted to share with you the wonderful news that the Carnegie Foundation has recognized UC Irvine for our leadership on two essential fronts: advancing science and discovery for the nation and prioritizing student access and success.

In the latest Carnegie Classifications, UC Irvine was designated as a Research 1 (R1) institution, the highest possible. This designation means we rank among the nation’s leaders in two areas, research spending and doctoral degrees granted. UC Irvine was also given the Opportunity College & University designation, a new classification that calls us out as a national model for providing both access to students in the communities they serve and a path to competitive earnings. You can read more about this in the press release.

We are one of only 21 institutions in the entire nation—and the only California member of the Association of American Universities—to earn both these designations. This rare honor is testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff who drive forward our intentional agenda of innovation and opportunity.

At a time when federal support for research is facing uncertainty, this recognition underscores how vital sustained investment in universities like UC Irvine is to the nation’s future—fueling innovation, discovery, and economic mobility.

UC Irvine is proud to be recognized for both what we discover and whom we empower. These designations reflect our deep institutional commitment to ensuring that groundbreaking research and inclusive excellence go hand-in-hand. We are advancing knowledge while lifting lives – and that’s what a great public university should do.

Chancellor Howard Gillman