Texas Woman’s University in Denton has been designated as a ‘Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production’ institution by the American Council on Education for the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. This designation is a significant milestone, enhancing the university’s core missions of teaching, research, and service.
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation & Corporate Engagement at Texas Woman’s, stated that this achievement elevates the university’s stature and increases opportunities for research and experiential learning. It also enhances Texas Woman’s ability to attract and retain talented faculty and students. Universities with high research activity like this typically draw more federal and private research funding, appealing to scholars interested in research programs.
Chancellor Carine Feyten commented on the strategic importance of this designation, noting that it underscores Texas Woman’s commitment to enhancing educational experiences through teaching, discovery, and innovation. The university’s increased research activity promotes more student-faculty interaction, enriches undergraduate and graduate education, and encourages interdisciplinary collaborations and community engagement.
The designation is part of the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which reviews about 3,900 U.S. institutions every three years. Currently, 139 universities are classified as ‘R2.’ This classification requires institutions to have annual research expenditures of at least $5 million and to confer research doctorate degrees to a minimum of 20 PhD candidates each year. In 2023, Texas Woman’s reported $6.9 million in total research expenditures and awarded 233 research doctorates, according to the National Science Foundation’s HERD survey.
This accomplishment places Texas Woman’s University in a distinct position within the academic community and reinforces its role as a leader in research and doctoral education in Texas.