East Texas A&M Classified as a “Higher Access” Institution by Carnegie Foundation

On April 24, the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education unveiled a redesigned version of the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Under the new framework, East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) is classified as a Higher Access, Medium Earnings institution.

Higher Access means ETAMU is especially accessible to students from the area it serves. This measure compares students who are Pell Grant recipients, and those from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, to the demographics of ETAMU's service area.

Medium Earnings reflects that ETAMU students go on to earn incomes in the middle range compared to peers in similar job markets. This is based on earnings data from former students eight years after they enrolled, compared to a similar population in the students' home area.

Dr. Dan Su, executive director of Institutional Research at ETAMU, said the Higher Access/Medium Earnings classification is consistent with the university's ranking as a Top Performer on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

“East Texas A&M is advancing educational opportunities and economic outcomes, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Su said. “Universities like ours are engines of socio-economic change.”

What Is the Carnegie Classification?

The Carnegie Classification is a key system used to describe and group colleges and universities across the United States. It's not a ranking — it's a system used to categorize colleges and universities in the United States based on various characteristics like degree types awarded, research activity, enrollment size, special focus or mission.

Carnegie classifications are updated every three years. The recent update aims to make the classifications more useful and better aligned with today's fast-changing higher education landscape.

Visit the Carnegie Classification webpage to read more about ETAMU’s classifications.

ETAMU's R2 Research Status

In February, East Texas A&M was also categorized by the Carnegie Classification as a Research 2 (R2) institution, with 59 research doctoral degrees and over $7 million in research expenditures. The R2 designation highlights the university’s commitment to research and innovation, placing it among an elite group of leading research institutions within The Texas A&M University System and nationwide.

Visit the Carnegie Classification webpage to read more about ETAMU’s classifications.

Featured Photo: ETAMU Student | East Texas A&M Office of Marketing and Communications