New designation highlights commitment to healthcare research and education
Midwestern University is proud to announce that both its Downers Grove, Illinois, and Glendale, Arizona, campuses have earned the newly introduced “Research Colleges and Universities” (RCU) designation in the latest update of the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This recognition highlights Midwestern University’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and research.
Developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Carnegie Classification has been the leading framework for categorizing U.S. colleges and universities for over five decades. The 2025 update introduces the Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) designation to recognize institutions with significant research activity that do not primarily grant research doctorates. To qualify, institutions must spend at least $2.5 million annually on research and development.
“Midwestern University has committed to strategically investing in resources and initiatives which support and incentivize our faculty in achieving impactful research. Using that springboard, our incredibly talented and dedicated faculty members have been the engine driving all of our research achievements, including our institution being listed in the latest Carnegie Classification as a Research University,” said James Woods, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Research.
As an institution specializing in health professions education, Midwestern University continues to expand its research capabilities across a range of medical and scientific disciplines. The RCU designation further highlights its contributions to scientific discovery and the training of future healthcare professionals who actively collaborate with faculty mentors on diverse research projects.
For more information about Midwestern University’s research initiatives, visit https://www.midwestern.edu/research.
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Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit graduate and postgraduate educational institution specializing in the health sciences with 13 colleges located on two campuses. The Illinois campus, located on a 105-acre site in Downers Grove, is home to nearly 3,000 students and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine; the College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove; the College of Health Sciences, Downers Grove; the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois; the Chicago College of Optometry; the College of Graduate Studies, Downers Grove; and the College of Veterinary Medicine-Illinois. The Arizona campus, located on a 156-acre site in Glendale, is home to over 3,900 students and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine; the College of Pharmacy, Glendale; the College of Health Sciences, Glendale; the College of Dental Medicine-Arizona; the Arizona College of Optometry; the College of Veterinary Medicine; the College of Graduate Studies, Glendale; and the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit http://www.midwestern.edu or call 623/572-3215.