English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Esperanto
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Urdu
In the just-released 2025 rankings by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, WVU was reaffirmed as an R1 university, the highest possible research ranking.
WVU is the only R1 institution in West Virginia and one of 187 colleges and universities nationwide to earn the latest prestigious classification.
“This feat reinforces the standing of West Virginia University as a top research institution in the country and highlights our mission to provide hands-on learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students, which is very unique in the higher ed world,” President Gordon Gee said. “It also amplifies our purpose to serve not only West Virginia, but those beyond our borders in confronting the world’s most pressing challenges.”
The latest classifications included two key qualifications: institutions must spend at least $50 million a year on research and development, and award at least 70 doctorates.
In 2023, the year used for this classification, WVU granted more than 200 doctoral degrees and expended more than $246 million on research, over $100 million of which came from federal agencies.
“The University excels in many areas of research, all of which improve learning for our students and the quality of life of our citizens,” Vice President for Research Fred King said. “Despite the trends we’ve seen in higher ed in recent years, WVU has remained steadfast in its mission to find solutions to the world’s most challenging problems.”
Notable areas of research excellence at WVU include neuroscience, astrophysics, robotics, energy and forensic science.
“The success of our University in research is a reflection of the hard work of our faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students — both graduate and undergraduate,” King added. ”Our undergraduate students benefit from hands-on experiences and opportunities that cannot be found at most universities in the country. They can engage in research on the cutting edge of their discipline and learn from the leaders, an opportunity that is afforded uniquely by R1 universities like WVU.”
Students such as Hannah McMillen, of Charles County, Maryland, come to WVU as undergraduates, hone their craft and advance as scientists and researchers. In McMillen’s case, she learned under the tutelage of Glen Jackson, a world-renowned forensic scientist who’s appeared on “Forensic Files” and other true crime documentaries.
At WVU, McMillen earned both a bachelor’s degree in forensic chemistry and a master’s degree in forensic and investigative science. She is currently a doctoral forensic science student in The (Glen) Jackson Research Group, where she explores the development of an algorithm to identify ignitable liquids in fire debris. Jackson, her mentor, is recently known for providing expertise that helped free a man wrongfully imprisoned for a fire that killed a southern West Virginia doctor.
“The goal of fire scene investigations is to determine the cause of a fire — i.e. arson, accidental, natural, etc. — and to do that, we analyze fire debris for the presence of ignitable liquids, like gasoline, an analysis that currently lacks truly reliable and objective means to determine an ignitable liquids presence,” McMillen said. “This is where my research comes in.”
McMillen stayed at WVU through undergraduate and graduate school for three reasons: the quality of the forensic science programs, the caliber of research and the “people that make it home.”
“I dreamed since elementary school of being a forensic scientist, so when it came time to figure out which university to attend to pursue my dream, WVU was THE list,” McMillen said. “Not only because of the state-of-the-art facilities and unparalleled hands-on experience, but also the exceptional research at the forefront of forensic science.
“Solving problems and pursuing answers to questions that have been on forensic scientists’ minds for years is extremely rewarding, and something I get to partake in every day here.”
Other groundbreaking research endeavors that elevate the profile of WVU can be found in the work of world-class astrophysicists, such as Duncan Lorimer and Maura McLaughlin, who earned the Shaw Prize, called “the Nobel of the East,” for their discovery of fast radio bursts. Lorimer and McLaughlin also in the past year were elected to the Royal Society of London and National Academy of Sciences, respectively.
Water researchers, like Paul Ziemkiewicz, have helped pioneer ways to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals — which power everything from smartphones to the nation’s missile guidance system — from acid mine drainage and coal sludge.
In the health care field, Dr. Sally Hodder became the first WVU researcher to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Hodder, director of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute, is world-renowned for her research on infectious diseases.
“Maintaining the prestigious R1 ranking reaffirms the University’s continued commitment to research excellence which aligns with our land-grant mission and efforts to attract world-class students and faculty,” said Ming Lei, senior associate vice president for Research and Graduate Education, WVU Health Sciences, vice dean of research for the WVU School of Medicine and professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology.
The R1 reaffirmation also comes on the heels of another research milestone at WVU. For fiscal year 2024, the University pulled in $275 million in external funding for research and other sponsored programs, a record and an 82% increase from five years prior.
“We know that R1 universities afford an exceptional educational opportunity for their students,” King said. “What may sometimes be missed is the impact that their work has in improving the health and prosperity of the citizens of the state and nation. R1 universities are key to our continued economic security and national security.”
