Bryn Mawr College’s commitment to research for faculty members and students has been recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, with the College’s inclusion in the new category of Research Colleges and Universities.
The organizations recently announced updates to their entire methodology for classifying colleges and universities, with changes to the criteria for Research 1 (R1) and Research 2 (R2) institutions and the creation of the all-new Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) category.
“A highlight of our work to modernize the Carnegie Classification is the new Research Colleges and Universities designation, which will shed light on institutions that have engaged in research but historically haven’t been recognized for it,” said Ted Mitchell, president of ACE in an announcement.
The RUC designation includes any non-R1 or R2 institution that spends more than $2.5 million on research annually. And while that list includes a total of 216 institutions, Bryn Mawr can confidently claim a leadership position.
According to the latest Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Bryn Mawr had more than $9 million in research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2023. The College was ranked number one among liberal arts colleges for research expenditures by Washington Monthly in its 2024 college rankings.
“Bryn Mawr has long been a place where rigorous inquiry and deep intellectual engagement thrive,” says President Wendy Cadge. “This new designation affirms what we have always known—our faculty and students are making meaningful contributions to the world through research that advances knowledge and shapes the future."
