William & Mary earns coveted R1 research status

William & Mary achieved a landmark achievement in February, the prestigious Research 1 designation, joining five other Virginia universities.

That’s the highest ranking possible, recognizing top research spending and doctorate production; 187 institutions nationally have earned R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

What’s a bit unusual is the fact that W&M is smaller than the state’s other R1 schools and doesn’t have an associated medical school. George Mason University, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech also earned R1 status this year.

“William & Mary’s designation as an R1 research university reflects our longstanding commitment to research that drives innovation and creates meaningful impact,” Provost Peggy Agouris said in a statement. “This designation expands opportunities for our outstanding faculty and students to engage in research of consequence, leading to actionable solutions and addressing pressing global challenges.”

W&M’s research activities involve more than 20 research centers and institutes. According to the university, much of the research is interdisciplinary. The university processed more than $81 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023, supported by grants. But that total doesn’t include research efforts happening around the campus that are not supported through sponsored programs.

W&M conferred an average of 70 doctoral degrees each year between 2020 and 2023, including doctorates in everything from history to marine science. The nation’s second university, founded in 1693, also has built a reputation recently for its technology research and accompanying entrepreneurial network to bring ideas to market. Leaders hope the R1 classification will elevate its reputation further and allow more grant opportunities and a better ability to attract large-scale competitive funding.

Dennis Manos, vice provost for research and graduate/professional studies, says that the university’s evolution into a major research university has been an ongoing process for decades, requiring a large growth of Ph.D. programs, which he says are the measure of a research university.

W&M worked with partners in experimental physics and applied science and engineering areas and formed partnerships with the major military bases in and around the coastal peninsula region, Manos says. “Our Ph.D. students and their faculty mentors have worked with NASA Langley and Jefferson Laboratory, both flagship topical centers supported by the federal government to promote cutting edge research of economic value.”