A new Carnegie designation ranks Franklin & Marshall College among leading national institutions that prioritize research activity. 

The 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education includes a new "Research Colleges and Universities" designation, recognizing research activity at institutions that primarily focus on undergraduate education and spend at least $2.5 million annually on research. 

Out of some 200 liberal arts colleges in the United States, only 40 have this distinction. 

Released every three years, the Carnegie Classification is the nation’s leading framework for categorizing diverse U.S. higher education institutions. The College will retain its 2022 “more selective” ranking in addition to the new research classification. View F&M’s Carnegie profile. 

“This new threshold establishes a clear and transparent target for institutions whose mission supports prioritizing research,” states the American Council on Education. The previous classification system was primarily reserved for doctoral universities. 

“This is a mark of distinction,” said Alan Caniglia, vice president for institutional research and chief strategy officer at F&M.

“The research that is done by faculty at F&M, and the level of scholarship, is quite high both in terms of quantity and in terms of quality. Faculty are securing research grants to support the work that they're doing and involving a lot of students in collaborative research,” Caniglia said.

In 2024 alone, F&M faculty members earned more than $4.5 million in grants across various departments. Faculty, staff and students have been recognized both nationally and globally for their research contributions to a range of academic fields. Nearly a quarter of F&M students received funding to engage in research across all disciplines in summer 2024.

Approximately 550 F&M students participate in research, internships and service projects in Lancaster and the surrounding area each year. With a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio and an average of 17 students per class, a majority of students collaborate with professors on research or guided learning by the time they graduate.

What students and recent graduates have to say about research at F&M:

“Research is very accessible at F&M. It’s one of the strongest things about the College. There are a lot of projects you can apply for that you otherwise couldn't do if you were at a larger school.”

Tai Jespersen '26

“I can't thank the F&M staff and research opportunities enough. That really helped me figure out what type of work I should do after college.”

Mckenzie Golden '25

“Due to the small class sizes and focus on the undergraduate academic experience, I could readily get involved in research, internships and leadership opportunities fostering academic and personal development.”

Holly Batchelder '23

F&M Continues to Climb U.S. News Rankings

F&M is ranked No. 31 among national liberal arts colleges in the 2025 Report of Best Colleges. The College also received accolades in the U.S. News top tier of Best Value Schools, Top Performers on Social Mobility and Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Read More »