Texas leads the nation in top-tier research universities

Feb. 21, 2025, Austin, TX – Texas now leads the nation in top-tier research institutions according to the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation’s 2025 Research Activity Designations.

“Building a Talent Strong Texas is a bold plan, but we knew that when institutions, the Coordinating Board, and our state leaders work together we could reach these goals. This new recognition of Texas’ growth in institutional research proves it,” said Chairman of the Coordinating Board Dr. Fred Farias. “In reaching these goals, more Texans will be able to achieve greater economic mobility and prosperity as our economy thrives.”

Texas now has 16 Research 1 (R1) designated institutions, which is defined by a clear threshold of $50 million in total research spending and 70 research doctorates awarded annually. 

Designated institutions in Texas are:

  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • Baylor University
  • Rice University
  • Southern Methodist University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas Tech University
  • The University of Texas at Arlington
  • The University of Texas at Austin
  • The University of Texas at Dallas
  • The University of Texas at El Paso
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • University of Houston
  • University of North Texas
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Promoting research, development, and innovation is a primary goal of Building a Talent Strong Texas, the state’s strategic plan for higher education. As a leading state in basic and applied research, Texas provides students with opportunities to work at the frontiers of human knowledge, with hands-on learning environments like incubators, maker spaces, software-development labs, and other research experiences. In doing so, it is powering the global economy, and ensuring the state’s competitiveness into the future.   

“Research leads to the innovations of tomorrow, and those innovations fuel a robust economy,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Wynn Rosser. “To lead the nation in the number of R1 research institutions is an honor. Now we must continue to seek and fund new ways to build a Texas workforce and economy that thrives on the cutting edge of today’s technology and discoveries. ”

Governor Abbott and the 88th Texas Legislature made historic investments in higher education research initiatives through legislation like House Bill 1595, which establish the Texas University Fund to expand the state’s investment in research at Texas public universities, and the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium through House Bill 5174.  

This year, 187 institutions across the country received a research designation of R1.

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