Montana Technological University has been recognized as a 2025 Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, a new designation highlighting colleges and universities with significant research activity.
The recognition places Montana Tech among 216 institutions nationwide identified in the inaugural Research Colleges and Universities category, which acknowledges institutions that spend at least $2.5 million annually on research and development but do not offer large numbers of doctoral degrees.
The updated Carnegie framework introduces new research activity designations intended to better capture the diversity and breadth of research taking place across American higher education.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has served as the leading framework for describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education since its creation in 1973. The 2025 update represents the first phase of a broader redesign intended to better reflect the multidimensional nature of colleges and universities.
Under the new methodology, research activity designations are now separate from the broader institutional classifications. This change allows institutions of all types—including primarily undergraduate institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and specialized institutions—to receive recognition for their research enterprises if they meet the required thresholds.
Research activity designations are determined using data reported to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey for fiscal years 2021–2023 and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) completions survey for doctoral degrees.
Montana Tech’s recognition reflects its expanding research portfolio and emphasis on applied research that benefits industry, communities, and the state of Montana.
Future updates to the Carnegie system are planned every three years.
Montana Technological University, located in Butte is Montana’s STEM university and is known for hands-on education and research in fields science, technology, engineering, math, healthcare, and the trades.