What is the Difference Between R1 and R2 Universities?

At Research 1 – or R1 – institutions, research study spans the academic spectrum, engaging grad students with research opportunities from the creative arts and humanities to the social sciences and applied sciences.

R1 universities are at the forefront of research and innovation, and they receive federal and/or private funding specifically for their academic research.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education has classified approximately 146 U.S. institutions as having R1 status. In other words, R1 institutions are recognized as the best research universities in the country — and West Virginia University is one of them (and the only R1 institution in the state of West Virginia).

But what is the difference between R1 and R2 universities? Is it really worth choosing an R1 institution over one with R2 status? Here's the difference between R1 and R2 status institutions.

More Ph.D. Students Graduate From R1 Universities

Research conducted at the graduate level cultivates a more comprehensive and cutting-edge knowledge base. Grad programs offered at R1 institutions also foster a community that focuses on experimental learning and expands upon research, rather than solely focusing on existing facts in the field. In this way, R1-status universities help grad students engage in cutting-edge research that's typically associated with Ph.D. candidates.

These candidates find that conducting research at an R1 institution greatly benefits their academic and professional path, because they are actively engaged with the most recent findings coming out of their respective fields. For this reason, R1 institutions actually graduate more doctoral students than any other universities, including R2-status institutions.

Research Funding is Often Better at R1s

R1 universities are awarded significantly larger amounts of funding in comparison to R2 institutions. R1 institutions are required to have minimum funding of $43.8 million per academic year. R2 institutions have a much lower minimum funding requirement.

And because R1 institutions also employ research-driven faculty who are passionate about research, most R1 universities actually bring in significantly more than the minimum funding requirement. For example, in 2019, WVU reported $152 million in research expenditures. And by fiscal year 2024, this number had increased to $275 million.

Accomplished Researchers Often Come from R1 Institutions

Graduate students at R1 institutions are investigating new frontiers — looking at what has been discovered and making their own new discoveries.

With a graduate degree from an R1 university, research-driven students can expect to go out and be a leading scholar in their area. They'll be on the forefront of the next generation of people who are discovering great new ideas and changing and shaping the world.

At WVU specifically, you'll go through a huge transformation, where you’ll move from being the student to being the professional — and then you’ll be ready to make a mark on the world.

Learn more about WVU's R1 status — connect with us!

At WVU, you have the opportunity to join one of the best research universities in the country. At an internationally recognized R1 institution, you'll learn from a community of driven, research-focused professionals who are making a positive impact across industries.

The university offers a variety of excellent graduate programs designed to prepare you for a successful career. For a list of current programs, visit our graduate programs page.