City of San Diego honors SDSU earning historic R1 status with official proclamation

In recognition of San Diego State University’s achievement in earning the R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the City of San Diego officially proclaimed May 13 as San Diego State University R1 Carnegie Classification Day.

This citywide honor celebrates SDSU’s elevation to the top tier of research universities in the nation – one of only 187 institutions nationwide, and the first in the California State University system to receive the “Very High Research Activity” designation.

SDSU is also among just 19 institutions to hold both R1 and Hispanic-Serving Institution status, affirming its dual mission of research excellence and equitable student access.

“San Diego State University again solidifies itself among the top research universities in the United States with the prestigious Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education R1 designation,” said Council President Joe LaCava, an SDSU alumnus.  “I am proud to recognize my alma mater for securing this strategic accomplishment and leading the California State University system.”

The recognition follows SDSU’s record-breaking year of research growth, with nearly $230 million secured in external funding during the 2023-24 academic year – a nearly 20% increase and the highest year-over-year gain in more than a decade. Funding for SDSU’s research, which comes from both public agencies and the private sector, has grown 64% in the last three years.

“We are deeply honored to receive this proclamation, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the City Council for their meaningful recognition and support,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre, who was among those to attend the proclamation ceremony at the City Council Chambers.

“Earning R1 classification as an elite research university was a goal I set when I arrived at SDSU in 2018 because of the positive impact it will have on our students and region, so I am proud of what this means not only for SDSU, but for the entire City of San Diego,” de la Torre said. 

“We are San Diego’s university – about 60% of our graduates remain in the San Diego region, contributing directly to our regional workforce and economy. We are educating a diverse workforce across sectors and disciplines that will shape this region for generations,” she added. 

The city’s ceremony recognized SDSU’s decades-long transformation into a research powerhouse, most recently guided by the university’s strategic plan launched by de la Torre in 2020.

With this historic milestone, SDSU is not only enhancing academic and career opportunities for its students, but also generating solutions that improve quality of life throughout the San Diego region and beyond, said Hala Madanat, SDSU’s vice president for Research and Innovation.

“This milestone was made possible by our extraordinary faculty, staff and the steadfast support of the SDSU Research Foundation,” Madanat said. “On behalf of the entire university community, it’s an honor to receive this proclamation.”

For more information about SDSU’s research achievements and R1 designation, visit the university’s R1 website.