Colorado School of Mines again recognized as R1 research institution by Carnegie
Over past decade, Mines' federal, state and private research funding has grown nearly 70%, topping $106 million in FY2024
Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate Allison Arrington and undergraduate research assistant Alexandra Baumann perform a Kolsky bar dynamic compression experiment in the Extreme Structures and Materials (XSTRM) Lab at Colorado School of Mines.
Colorado School of Mines reaffirmed its status in the top tier of research universities in the United States in the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Mines received the designation of Research 1, or R1, which recognizes “Very High (Research) Spending and Doctorate Production” in the 2025 classifications released earlier this month – one of only 187 institutions nationwide to earn the highest designation for research activity, out of nearly 4,000 public and private universities in the U.S.
Mines earned R1 status for the first time in 2022. The 2025 designations were the first to occur under an updated methodology intended to clarify the requirements for R1 and more broadly reflect the higher education research landscape in the U.S.
In the last decade, Mines' federal, state and private research funding has grown nearly 70 percent, with awards topping $106 million in fiscal year 2024. R1 classification is determined based on research spending and doctorates awarded – Mines’ FY24 research spending totaled more than $94 million and the university awarded 124 doctorates.
“R1 status is an achievement that only the top five percent of research institutions nationwide earn, and Mines’ continued recognition reflects the dedication of the Mines research community to drive innovation with impact,” said Walter G. Copan, vice president for research and technology transfer at Mines.
A public institution focused on applied science and engineering throughout its 150-year history, Mines is well known for its research expertise across earth, energy and environmental sciences, tackling challenges like critical minerals, sustainable mining, water contamination and energy independence. Today, Mines researchers also push scientific boundaries with breakthroughs in quantum science, robotics, space exploration and advanced materials. By integrating policy, economics and social science, Mines drives innovation delivering practical, community-driven solutions with global impact.
“Mines has a unique history of use-inspired research that draws on our strong partnerships with industry, federal labs and other universities, to take on the most pressing and complex challenges of our time and to deliver innovations that improve our lives,” Copan said.
In order to be classified as R1, universities must achieve at least $50 million in total research spending and 70 research doctorates awarded annually. In Colorado, Mines, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Denver earned the designation in 2025.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
