Pacific University Receives Additional Recognition for Commitment to Research

Pacific University has been recognized once again for its commitment to research.

Pacific recently was reclassified as a Doctoral/Professional University through the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The new category recognizes universities who invest in research and also confer a significant number of “first professional degrees,” such as clinical degrees in the health professions.

The designation is the latest recognition of Pacific’s growing commitment to research and scholarship. Pacific also recently was named the No. 1 private research university in the Pacific Northwest and No. 10 in the Far West, amid peers like Stanford, USC and Caltech.

Pacific serves about 3,900 students, almost evenly split between undergraduate and graduate programs. While the university maintains its traditional identity as a residential liberal arts university in Forest Grove, Ore., it also has expanded vastly in recent decades to add graduate and professional programs in business, education and the health professions to its longstanding optometry program.

The mix creates robust pathways and experiences for students at all levels, says Pacific University President Lesley Hallick.

“Our students have amazing opportunities to collaborate with professors on peer-reviewed research and take part in global conversations advancing knowledge,” she said. “Both traditional scientific research and creative scholarship are key components of preparing our students to excel in their fields and derive directly from our core mission of discovery.”

The Carnegie Classification is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. It is widely used in the study of higher education, as well as in the most prominent national rankings of universities. Prior to the 2018 update, Pacific was categorized as a Master’s College & University. Most private universities in the region are categorized as a master’s or baccalaureate categories.