06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 15:23
The Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education designated Stephen F. Austin State University as a Higher Access, Medium Earnings institution. SFA has also earned a Carnegie research classification for the first time, designated as a Research College and University.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education designated Stephen F. Austin State University as a Higher Access, Medium Earnings institution due to its work to advance opportunity in a rural service area. Because of SFA, East Texas students benefit from greater access to a college education and above-average wages upon completion of their degrees, according to the designation.
"This designation highlights a commitment to serving first-generation, rural and underrepresented students who might not be served by larger or more selective universities," said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. "SFA is transforming lives by preparing students for success, strengthening community partnerships and driving economic mobility across our region. We remain steadfast in our commitment to offering affordable and accessible education that meets the needs of East Texas."
SFA has also earned a Carnegie research classification for the first time, designated as a Research College and University. The Research College and University is a new designation that identifies research work being done at colleges and universities that have not historically been recognized for their research activity due to fewer doctoral degrees. SFA is one of six schools in Texas and one of 107 across the country that hold both "Research College and University" and "Higher Access" designations.
"SFA is offering a growing number of doctoral programs, which signals upward mobility toward doctoral classification," said Dr. Forrest Lane, dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. "This designation reflects the exceptional scholarly contributions of our faculty, students and staff, and recognizes that meaningful, transformative research is taking place at regional institutions like ours."
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a system used to categorize U.S. colleges and universities based on various characteristics like degree types awarded, research activity, enrollment size, special focus or mission. Carnegie classifications are updated every three years, and the recent updates aim to make the classifications more useful and better aligned with today's fast-changing higher education landscape.
"The American higher education landscape is incredibly dynamic and complex. But the Carnegie Classifications as they are organized today do not capture that dynamism or the variety of higher education institutions," said Ted Mitchell, president of American Council on Education. "We are reimagining the Carnegie Classifications to better group and organize like institutions to accurately reflect the broad scope of their work with students, communities, and the broader public purposes of higher education."
Visit the Carnegie Classification webpage to read more about SFA's classifications.