In early 2025 UW achieved Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university in the rarefied air of the top research universities in the United States. This prestigious designation recognizes our commitment to groundbreaking research, academic excellence, and impactful discoveries that benefit Wyoming and the world.
Looking Forward
R1 status is not just a recognition of our past achievements—it's a foundation for future growth. This designation will help UW:
As Wyoming's first and only R1 research institution, UW's enhanced status brings unprecedented
opportunities to our state:
ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE ACROSS DISCIPLINES
SOLVE COMPLEX GLOBAL CHALLENGES
DRIVE INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS
SERVE WYOMING'S COMMUNITIES
R1 designation places UW among the leading research universities in the U.S. while maintaining our commitment to education and service to Wyoming.