FEBRUARY 20, 2025 — The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) recently reaffirmed its R1 Classification (“very high research activity”) from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in their 2025 Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education.
The R1 Classification is one of the highest designations a public research university can receive — with at least $50 million in total research spending and at least 70 research doctorates awarded annually. In 2025, only 187 institutions (4.7%) were given a designation of R1.
“This R1 reclassification is a testament to our world-class faculty and researchers, whose commitment to excellence continues to push our university to new heights,” said UTSA President and UT Health San Antonio Acting President Taylor Eighmy. “The prominence of this accomplishment will only be amplified as we continue our journey to merge UTSA and UT Health San Antonio to create one powerhouse institution for our city, state and nation.”
UTSA’s research expenditures grew to $152.3 million in FY 2023, up 7.5% from $141.7 million the previous year, making FY 2023 the fourth consecutive year that the university’s annual research expenditures exceeded $100 million. Work underway in UTSA’s 30 research centers and institutes accounted for $41.8 million in expenditures in FY 2023, with the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute, Brain Health Consortium, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute collectively accounting for 50.7% of that spending.
“UTSA’s reaffirmation as an R1 institution highlights the exceptional research contributions of our faculty and the transformative, hands-on opportunities we provide for our students,” said Heather Shipley, UTSA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “This designation strengthens our ability to cultivate an environment where faculty advance groundbreaking discoveries, and students develop the skills and experience needed to become the next generation of innovators and leaders, contributing to economic growth and a stronger workforce in San Antonio and beyond.”
The merger of The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and The University of Texas at San Antonio unites two R1-designated institutions, recognized for their very high research activity in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. This classification underscores the universities’ combined strength in research expenditures and doctoral education, placing the newly merged institution among the most elite research universities in the nation. This new powerhouse institution will not only reinforce San Antonio’s position as a hub for innovation but also elevate the region’s economic and scientific influence on a national scale. This merger signals a transformation in higher education and research excellence, benefiting Texas and beyond.
The Carnegie Classification was developed in 1970 by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education to recognize the diversity of U.S. colleges and universities through a systematic evaluation. It is based on several data sources, including an institution’s annual research expenditures, the density of its research staff and the number of doctoral degrees it confers each year.
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Covidence is a systematic & scoping review tool used to streamline the process of screening and reviewing articles. Using this software, research teams can easily import studies, perform automatic deduplication, and extract data using templates. This workshop will show attendees how to start a review in Covidence, add collaborators, and get started on screening.
Virtual (Zoom)In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to Pandas, a Python tool for working with data easily. It makes it simple to organize and analyze information when data is organized and categorized, like spreadsheets or tables.
Group Spot B, John Peace LibraryEach fall and spring semester, students convene at the Main Campus at UTSA with booths, ideas and prototypes. A crowd of judges, local organizations, students, faculty and sponsors walk around and talk to the students about their projects and ask questions. Students get the real-life experience of "pitching" their project with hopes of getting funding or support to move to the next level.
UTSA Convocation Center, Main CampusJoin the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusCelebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
