UNC Charlotte officially achieved Research 1, or R1, status this week, after doubling its research spending over the last decade. The honor, which East Carolina University also earned this week, establishes the school as a top research university in the U.S. and could potentially help attract faculty and students alike.

UNC Charlotte has joined the ranks of the country’s elite doctoral research universities, now that it has been awarded R1 research status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNC Charlotte is among the elite when it comes to research. The Charlotte university has been awarded R1 — or Research 1 — status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is one of 187 universities nationwide to receive that designation — the highest for a doctoral university.

The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized St. Edward's under the Research Colleges and Universities classification.