Southern Connecticut State University has achieved a major milestone in its commitment to academic excellence, earning national recognition for the strength of its faculty and research output. The Carnegie Foundation has awarded Southern a 2025 Research 2 (R2) designation in its Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education—a distinction given to universities with high research spending and significant production of doctoral degrees. This recognition places Southern among an elite group of research-focused institutions nationwide.
Southern is now the first and only R2-designated university in Connecticut and one of just 139 across the country. The only institutions in Connecticut with a higher classification—Research 1 (R1)—are Yale University and the University of Connecticut. This advancement holds particular significance for prospective students interested in STEM and other research-driven careers.
“Southern started as a teacher’s college, and we have remained a hub for learning, teaching, and community resources ever since,” said SCSU Interim President Dwayne Smith. “Our faculty are leaders in their fields, and because of our scale, undergraduates benefit from direct access to graduate-level research opportunities—an often-overlooked advantage of our commitment to academic access.”
The Carnegie Classifications serve as the nation’s leading framework for assessing research activity at higher education institutions and are widely used by policymakers, funders, and researchers to evaluate institutional impact and potential.
To qualify for R2 status, institutions must award a minimum of 20 research doctorates and invest at least $5 million annually in research. By comparison, R1 institutions must award 70 research doctorates and spend $50 million on research annually. In fiscal year 2023, Southern surpassed the R2 threshold with $8 million in research expenditures and 29 research doctorates awarded.
While a significant portion of Southern’s research and development expenditures are institutionally funded, the university also receives substantial support from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and Education.
“With R2 status, Southern is strategically positioned to attract additional research funding and form new partnerships,” said Marty Guay, Chairman of the Connecticut Board of Regents.
Southern is home to several research centers that support faculty scholarship, student research experiences, and community collaboration in areas such as autism spectrum disorders, educational and assistive technology, nanotechnology, coastal and marine studies, mathematics and the sciences, research and emerging technology ethics, and teaching and learning.
“As the state’s only R2 university, Southern is no longer a hidden gem,” said Dr. Julia Irwin, interim provost and professor of psychology. “Our students receive hands-on, experiential learning across a wide range of disciplines, mentored by faculty who are deeply committed to both teaching and research. This level of direct engagement is among our university’s greatest strengths.”
To learn more, visit www.Southernct.edu/research.
