A Landmark Collaboration Among Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have long served as vital engines of opportunity and innovation in American higher education. Now, fifteen of these institutions are joining forces in an unprecedented way to elevate their research profiles. In late April 2026, they launched the Association of HBCU Research Institutions, or AHRI, with the explicit goal of helping member schools reach Research 1, or R1, status under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation represents the highest tier of research activity, reserved for universities that demonstrate very high levels of research spending and doctoral degree production.

The move comes at a pivotal moment. Only one HBCU currently holds R1 classification: Howard University, which regained the status in the 2025 Carnegie update after a period without it. Thirteen other members of the new coalition already hold the R2 designation, signifying high research activity. By pooling resources, sharing best practices, and pursuing joint initiatives, the group aims to accelerate progress toward the elite R1 tier for more institutions.

Understanding the Carnegie R1 Classification and Its Evolving Criteria

The Carnegie Classification system, administered by the American Council on Education, categorizes U.S. colleges and universities based on research activity. Beginning with the 2025 update, the criteria for R1 became more straightforward: institutions must spend at least $50 million annually on research and development and award at least 70 research doctorates per year. R2 status requires $5 million in research spending and 20 research doctorates. These thresholds replaced more complex formulas used in prior years, potentially opening doors for additional institutions, including HBCUs, to qualify.

R1 status carries significant weight. It signals to federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners that an institution maintains robust research infrastructure, attracts top faculty, and produces substantial scholarly output. Schools with this designation often enjoy preferential access to large grants and collaborative opportunities that smaller or less research-intensive institutions may not receive.

The Formation of the Association of HBCU Research Institutions

The AHRI emerged from months of planning among HBCU leaders seeking to overcome longstanding barriers to research excellence. The coalition officially launched with announcements highlighting its focus on collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy. Founding members include Howard University as the sole R1 institution, alongside R2 schools such as Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, Morgan State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, and Virginia State University.

Leaders emphasize that the association will facilitate shared grant applications, joint research centers, faculty exchanges, and data-sharing protocols. Early priorities include increasing doctoral production, expanding research expenditures, and strengthening partnerships with majority institutions and federal agencies.

Current Landscape: Howard University Leads the Way

Howard University stands as a beacon for the coalition. Its recent return to R1 status followed years of strategic investment in research infrastructure and doctoral programs. Howard’s success demonstrates that HBCUs can meet the rigorous benchmarks when provided with adequate resources and focus. Other members of AHRI have already achieved impressive research milestones, with several reporting record external funding in recent fiscal years.

The coalition’s structure allows R2 institutions to learn directly from Howard’s experience while contributing their own strengths in areas such as engineering, health sciences, agriculture, and social sciences.

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Overcoming Historical Barriers to Research Excellence

HBCUs have faced systemic challenges in building research capacity. Decades of underfunding relative to peer institutions have limited the ability to recruit senior faculty, construct state-of-the-art laboratories, and support large-scale projects. Federal research dollars have historically flowed disproportionately to well-established research universities, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.

Recent policy developments offer hope. Provisions in the CHIPS and Science Act and the HBCU RISE Act direct resources toward strengthening research at HBCUs. The new coalition provides an organized vehicle to leverage these opportunities collectively rather than individually.

Strategic Partnerships and External Support

The effort has attracted attention and resources from prominent institutions outside the HBCU community. Harvard University announced a three-year, $1.05 million grant to support the association’s work, focusing on research collaboration and capacity building. Such partnerships signal growing recognition that diversifying the nation’s research enterprise strengthens American innovation overall.

Additional collaborations with other research universities, national laboratories, and industry partners are expected to follow as the coalition matures.

Benefits of R1 Status for Institutions, Faculty, and Students

Achieving R1 classification brings tangible advantages. Institutions gain eligibility for more competitive federal grants, including large-scale centers and equipment awards. Faculty benefit from enhanced resources for their scholarship, better access to graduate students, and improved prospects for tenure and promotion. Students, particularly those pursuing advanced degrees, encounter richer research environments and stronger pathways into academia, industry, and government.

Beyond funding, R1 status enhances institutional prestige, aiding recruitment of both students and faculty while positioning HBCUs as leaders in addressing critical national challenges in health, technology, climate, and social equity.

Implications for the Broader Higher Education Landscape

The AHRI initiative reflects a broader push for equity in research funding and recognition. As more HBCUs reach R1 status, the diversity of perspectives in American science and scholarship is expected to increase. This diversification can lead to novel research questions, more inclusive methodologies, and solutions that better serve underrepresented communities.

Administrators and policymakers are watching closely. Success by the coalition could influence future federal appropriations and foundation strategies aimed at building research capacity at minority-serving institutions.

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Challenges Ahead and Realistic Timelines

Reaching R1 status requires sustained effort. Institutions must simultaneously grow research expenditures and doctoral output while maintaining educational quality. The simplified 2025 criteria help, but competition remains intense. The coalition’s collaborative model—sharing infrastructure, co-authoring proposals, and mentoring emerging researchers—offers a practical path forward.

Leaders acknowledge that progress will vary by institution. Some members may achieve R1 within a few years, while others focus on strengthening R2 metrics first. The association provides a long-term framework for incremental gains.

Looking Forward: A New Era for HBCU Research

The formation of AHRI marks a turning point. By working together, these fifteen institutions are positioning themselves to play a larger role in the nation’s research enterprise. Their efforts align with national priorities around innovation, workforce development, and inclusive excellence.

For faculty and administrators at HBCUs, the coalition creates new opportunities for collaboration and professional growth. For job seekers and graduate students, it signals expanding research environments at institutions with deep commitments to student success and community impact.

As the association advances its agenda, observers anticipate measurable increases in research output, doctoral degrees awarded, and external funding secured across the HBCU sector. The ultimate measure of success will be sustained excellence that benefits both the institutions and the broader society they serve.