Fresno State retains Carnegie research classification in latest update

Research continues to grow at Fresno State, allowing students, faculty and staff to advance scholarly and creative work that can benefit the campus and the greater community.

The university’s R2 research designation, first earned in 2022, was renewed by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. An institution is designated R2 status if it awarded at least 20 research doctorates and had at least $5 million in total research expenditures during the classification update year.

Fresno State awarded 25 research doctoral degrees and spent $11.4 million on research expenditures in the 2022-23 academic year. The university offers a Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

The updated 2025 Carnegie Classifications were released Feb. 13 and include a series of changes to modernize and more accurately describe the richness and multifaceted nature of today’s colleges and universities. The R2 designation is now labeled “High Spending and Doctorate Production” instead of “Doctoral University – High Research Activity.”

“The continued R2 designation shows that we are competitive and it recognizes the quality of the research work that is being done at our university,” said Dr. Jason Bush, interim associate vice president of Research and Sponsored Programs at Fresno State. “The prestige of being an R2 institution also helps with recruitment of faculty and students and lets our community of potential donors know that we are a research university.”

Only eight of the 23 universities in the California State University system share this designation. This year, 139 institutions nationwide received the R2 designation. The Carnegie classification has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for over 40 years.

Fresno State has made research a priority under the university’s 2023-29 Strategic Plan with goals to develop operational structures and provide resources to allow faculty and staff to advance research and innovation.

During the 2023-24 academic year, Fresno State received more than 400 grants and contracts for a total of $78.3 million, setting a record in research funding for the sixth consecutive year.

“Fresno State strives to champion our Carnegie designation of R2 in supporting our talented faculty and students to advance research, innovation and creative work that benefit the Central Valley and the world,” said Dr. Xuanning Fu, Fresno State provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.