It’s already an A+ year for Kansas City’s academic scene. The University of Missouri-Kansas City has just minted R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — landing our Roos among the nation’s top universities.
By the numbers
Like any good student, going above and beyond expectations is what landed UMKC in the company of research powerhouses like Harvard and Stanford:
- 134. Surpassing the required average of 70, that’s the number of research doctorates the university awarded last year.
- $5 million. That’s how much UMKC exceeded the Carnegie benchmark of $50 million spent on research and development.
- 6%. Out of 2,800+ four-year institutions, only 187 universities (~6%) are awarded R1 status.
Other regional R1s include KU, K-State, Missouri S&T, and Mizzou. UMKC is the first Kansas City institution to receive the honor.
What does this mean for KC?
The designation is expected to attract more research dollars, top talent, and innovation-focused companies to the metro — fueling our city’s growing reputation as a center for innovation. This isn’t just a win for UMKC, it’s a win for all of KC.
