UNC Asheville earns Research Colleges and Universities designation for substantial undergraduate research activity

UNC Asheville has been formally recognized as a Research Colleges and Universities institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation reflects the university’s commitment to research excellence and its significant investment in scholarly inquiry.

The University earned this classification by surpassing the threshold of $2.5 million in research and development expenditures, with a total of $6,761,000 in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023. UNC Asheville’s research classification places it in a select group of institutions in North Carolina and, despite its smaller size, is comparable to Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University in grant dollars.

“Our designation as a Research College and University is a testament to the strength of our faculty, the curiosity of our students, and our longstanding commitment to research,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort. “The research experiences our students engage in set them apart. They graduate not only with knowledge but also with real-world experience that prepares them for competitive careers and graduate studies.”

This classification is the highest attainable for institutions that do not offer doctoral degrees, affirming the University’s leadership in undergraduate research. UNC Asheville pioneered the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), and its Undergraduate Research Program  is recognized as a “program of distinction” by U.S. News & World Report.

Undergraduate research is a cornerstone of academic life at UNC Asheville. With 65 percent of students completing original research projects, students have the opportunity to ask the critical questions of tomorrow, publish and present findings, and build networks that extend into their professional and academic futures.

See an example of undergraduate research involving tardigrades by one of our biology students: https://uncasheville.exposure.co/tiny-tardigrades-big-discoveries

About the Carnegie Classifications

The Carnegie Classification system is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. Established in 1973, it provides a foundation for research and policy analysis that highlights excellence across higher education institutions.