Pepperdine University Earns R2 Designation from Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Pepperdine University has earned the prestigious Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production (R2) designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education, elevating the school from its previous designation as a Doctoral/Professional University. This recognition, awarded to institutions with high research activity, distinguishes Pepperdine and its faculty members’ enduring commitment to purpose-driven scholarship.
A Seaver College student presents her research
“Academic excellence has always been a central tenet of Pepperdine's mission—it is a core part of who we as an institution are called to be,” says Pepperdine president Jim Gash. “Receiving the R2 designation is a testament to the work of our incredible faculty, whose ongoing dedication makes that mission a reality.”
The Carnegie Classification system, administered through the American Council on Education, is a widely respected benchmark for evaluating institutions based on rigorous, objective metrics. To achieve the R2 designation, institutions must demonstrate a strong commitment to research, exhibited by expenditures exceeding $5 million in research and development each fiscal year. In addition, they must award a minimum of 20 research doctorates annually.
Pepperdine University successfully met both of these standards in 2023, which is the fiscal year used to determine qualification. In that time period, the University invested $10.6 million in research and scholarship using both internal and external funding sources. Additionally, Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology and Graziadio Business School awarded 72 research doctoral degrees in 2023.
“Pepperdine's influence and research productivity continues to mature,” says Pepperdine University provost Jay Brewster. “Our faculty scholars work across diverse disciplines and partner with students to evaluate fundamental questions within both natural and societal environments. Achieving R2 status within the Carnegie Classification system for doctoral universities offers an encouraging recognition of our shared investment in scholarly work."
Jessica Hooten Wilson teaches a Great Books class
Pepperdine’s research capabilities have been a key factor in earning this prestigious recognition. Since 2011, the University has actively enhanced its research infrastructure, starting with the transformation of the Research and Sponsored Programs office. Now known as the Office of Research, Grants, and Foundation Relations, this initiative has played a crucial role in increasing faculty research proposal submissions, which has enriched the academic environment for both students and professors.
Through these efforts, Pepperdine has secured the funding necessary to launch transformative academic initiatives. Most recently, the institution was the recipient of two grants totaling $9.95 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc. This significant contribution will support the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art’s five-year Passages project as well as the Office of Church Relations’ Empower and Equip Program, both of which will make lasting impacts on the University and its broader community.
In 2021 the University received a $10 million grant from the Keck Foundation to establish the Keck Data Science Institute. The funding created new learning opportunities for students such as a data science minor, and the Keck Scholars program, providing research fellowships for undergraduate students. Similarly, Pepperdine has partnered with federally funded organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) to host the Summer Undergraduate Research in Biology program, where undergraduates from across the US join Pepperdine faculty and students to pursue research questions.
Students collaborate in the lab
Across the University, faculty have been at the forefront of groundbreaking research and have gained ample funding for their scholarly pursuits across a variety of disciplines. At the Graduate School of Education And Psychology, professor Eric Hamilton has earned a staggering $6 million in NSF grants. At the Caruso School of Law, Michael Helfand has brought in $1.5 million in grants to support the institution’s Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Religious Liberty Clinic. At Seaver College, professors Helen Holmlund, Javier Monzón, and Flo La Valle have each been awarded more than $500,000 to advance research in the natural sciences. At the School of Public Policy, Luisa Blanco has received more than $100,000 to research financial literacy, retirement preparedness, and health disparities among Latin American populations both domestically and abroad. And at the Graziadio Business School Clemens Kownatzki garnered $75,000 to enhance the technology available to graduate students.
Brewster notes, “This recognition highlights the strengthening commitment of Pepperdine faculty, students, and administration to apply academic expertise in the service of our society.”